Foreign nationals propel U.S. science. Visa limits under Trump could change that

President Donald Trump speaks at Snap-on tools, April 18, 2017, in Kenosha, Wis. Kiichiro Sato/AP

Kiichiro Sato/AP

Foreign-born workers account for about half of the doctoral-level scientists and engineers working in the U.S.

Many were initially hired under H-1B visas, which are granted to as many as 85,000 highly skilled specialists each year, allowing them to work in the U.S. for up to six years.

But the incoming Trump administration has signaled that it will crack down on H-1B visas, which could make it harder for universities, research institutions, and tech firms in the U.S. to find enough highly educated