Trump to Make Available 30,000 More Visas for Seasonal Workers
Trump Administration to Make Available 30,000 More Visas for Seasonal Workers
Congress has typically capped the number of seasonal worker visas issued each year at 66,000.
By Claire Hansen, Staff Writer May 6, 2019, at 2:19 p.m.
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Government OKs 30K More H-2B Visas
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The Trump administration said Monday it would allow 30,000 additional seasonal workers into the U.S. this summer.
AP PHOTO/ELISE AMENDOLA
THE TRUMP administration on Monday announced it will allow 30,000 more seasonal workers into the U.S. this summer, citing concerns that some U.S. businesses risk closing their doors without an increase.
A temporary rule to issue the extra visas, known as H-2Bs, was released by the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Labor. It confirms earlier reports that the agencies were planning a significant increase.
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To get the visas, businesses will have to prove that they would suffer "irreparable harm" without extra workers. Only seasonal workers who have been previously cleared in the last three years will be eligible, and employers can start petitioning for the visas on behalf of their workers when the temporary rule is published in the Federal Register, likely on Wednesday.
Fisheries, horticulture companies and seasonal resorts rely on the visa program, as do other industries.
The rule exposes the tension between the Trump administration's efforts to curb both legal and illegal immigration and the demands of a strong economy with low unemployement. President Donald Trump has repeatedly argued that legal immigration hurts American workers and drives down wages.
Congress has typically capped the number of the temporary visas at 66,000 a year – 33,000 for summer and for winter – though the Trump administration has raised that number by 15,000 in each of the last two years. Businesses and others have routinely asked Congress to expand or eliminate the cap on H-2Bs.
In a statement announcing the rule, acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan urged Congress to revamp its rules on H-2B visas.
"Congress – not DHS – should be responsible for determining whether the annual numerical limitations for H-2B workers set by Congress need to be modified and by how much, and for setting parameters to ensure that enough workers are available to meet employers' temporary needs throughout the year," McAleenan said.
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