Multiple associations blasted President Donald Trump's decision Monday to freeze new visas for foreign workers until the end of the year, saying the president's actions would harm the U.S. economy.

Trump signed an executive order freezing H-1B visas for certain tech workers, H-2B visas for low-skill jobs, H-4 visas for spouses of certain visa holders, J visas for those participating in work and student exchanges, and L visas for intracompany transfers, NBC News reported. The president said the suspensions, which will remain in place until Dec. 31, were needed to preserve U.S. jobs as the economy reels from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Several associations said Trump's decision would actually have the opposite effect by preventing domestic companies from recruiting the talent they need to fill key positions.

"Foreign nationals working in the United States make our communities better and our economy stronger," BSA | The Software Alliance said in a statement. "Access to foreign talent, adding to the expertise provided by American workers, is critical for the recovery and growth of all sectors of the U.S. economy, including the software industry which supports 14.4 million jobs and contributes $1.6 trillion in total value-added GDP annually."

Cinnamon Rogers, executive vice president for public advocacy for the Computing Technology Industry Association, called the decision to suspend H1B visas "extremely disappointing" and would have lasting economic consequences.

"H1B visa holders do not supplant American workers but instead help ensure U.S. innovation and economic growth," Rogers said in a statement. "Making it more difficult for bright minds to work in the United States only benefits our competitors abroad who will attract their talents to build and develop cutting-edge, job-creating goods and services."

Other business groups decrying the decision include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Computer Technology Association, TechNet, the Internet Association and Worldwide ERC. In a statement, Business Roundtable said companies "are more likely to invest and grow in the United States if they know how the government will administer immigration rules."

"Immigrants make invaluable contributions to our country and CEOs of America's largest employers will continue to advocate for bipartisan solutions to modernize our immigration system," the group said.

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