H-2B visas have had a cap of 66,000
temporary work permits and the additional 15,000 authorized will bring the cap
to 81,000.
The
U.S. Department of Homeland Security said on Friday, 25 May, it will expand a
temporary visa program used by seafood processors and other non-agricultural
businesses, but some in the seafood industry are questioning the announcement’s
timing.
An
additional 15,000 H-2B visa will be made available for U.S. companies to hire
foreign workers, according to DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. Her decree comes
roughly two months after the U.S. Congress authorized the department to expand
the number of visas beyond the annual cap of 66,000. Last year, federal
officials also added 15,000 visas to the program to account for demand.
In
a statement, Nielsen said the cap was designed to protect U.S. workers.
However, some businesses, such as lobster processors, have not been able to
find enough workers to staff their boats. As a result, it's impacting American
jobs as well. Now, the secretary wants legislators to do more than just
delegate authority to her.
“I
call on Congress to pass much needed reforms of the program and to expressly
set the number of H-2B visas in statute,” she said in a statement. “We are once
again in a situation where Congress has passed the buck and turned a decision
over to DHS that would be better situated with Congress, who knows the needs of
the program. As secretary, I remain committed to protecting U.S. workers
and strengthening the integrity of our lawful immigration system and look
forward to working with Congress to do so.”
According to the Baltimore Sun, processing plants along Maryland’s
Eastern Shore are missing up to 40 percent of their usual workforce because
they were unable to secure visas. This year, the 66,000 visas were distributed
through a lottery system instead of on a first-come basis.
Maryland
crabbers aren’t the only seafood processors who have been affected. Last year,
shrimpers in Texas saw their boats docked because of a lack of workers.
“As
American unemployment has dropped, demand for temporary seasonal workers has
increased dramatically,” U.S. Rep. Andy Harris (R-Maryland), who represents the
Eastern Shore, said on Facebook. “Maryland’s seafood processing
industry and other seasonal industries are suffering without the temporary
workers who come to the U.S. through the H-2B visa program.”
H2
Visa Consultants, which helps companies find foreign labor for H-2B and other
visa programs, took aim at Nielsen after her announcement, saying there’s been
a greater than 200 percent increase in requests for H-2B workers. Failing to
authorize a larger total will hurt the economy, the company said in a series of
messages on Twitter.
“It
was a big win for illegal immigration this week, as (Nielsen and President
Trump) have restricted H-2B visa access for seasonal businesses, placing them
in a position of having to close down operations or hire an undocumented
workforce. What do you think most will choose?” the company said on Twitter, adding a “saveh2b“ hashtag.
Comments
Welfare needs to be
reduced in areas where these labor shortages exist.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody
GA Tea Party Leader
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