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Australian tech industry lashes out at Trump's new visa rules

Xinhua, January 30, 2017 Adjust font size:

Leading Australian technology companies are livid after U.S. President Donald Trump announced changes to visa laws on Sunday, and are petitioning the Australian government to act.

The changes could see workers affected across the sector, with industry group TechSydney saying many employees are dual-nationals who are required to visit, and work in the United States as part of their duties.

Hichame Assi, HotelsCombined chief executive, and also a dual national British-Syrian who moved to Australia in 2008, is one of those affected, and can no longer travel to the U.S. for the next 90 days due to the new rules.

"We employ people of all nationalities, including dual-nationality Australians," Assi said in a statement on Monday.

"These developments in the U.S. are not only disruptive to our business and our people, they're very troubling and are creating more tensions at a time when empathy is required."

The new visa rules will not result in any changes to citizens solely of Australia, and 36 other countries that are currently allied with the United States. Endit