Foreign Labor Limits Likely to Affect Seasonal American Businesses

Majority of Adults in U.S. Support High-Skilled Immigration
February 11, 2019
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Foreign Labor Limits Likely to Affect Seasonal American Businesses

Businesses across the country depend on temporary foreign workers to fill jobs. Unfortunately, because of tightened immigration under the current administration and a lottery system for doling out just 33,000 H-2B visas rather than the previously used first-come, first-served model, many of those businesses will struggle to find the seasonal workers they need to stay afloat.

A recent NBC News article profiled one such business, a family-owned seafood company in Maryland. Lindy’s Seafood relies on seasonal labor, and has not been able to attract enough non-immigrant labor to handle labor-intensive and laborious tasks and to meet demand for the company’s products.

   
The Trump administration claims limiting immigration will result in more jobs for American workers. However, as Lindy’s Seafood and countless other employers know, in some cases, it’s actually doing the opposite. When they have the seasonal workers they need, U.S. companies are more likely to be able to stay in business. In doing so, they’re helping fuel their local economies which, in turn, helps create more jobs.

NBC News reports that there were nearly 100,000 requests for foreign workers this year. However, Congress limited visas to just 33,000 in the spring and another 33,000 in the fall. It’s not just seafood or agricultural businesses that are feeling the crunch; many other U.S. employers like landscapers, home service providers, and even carnivals are struggling to find the workers they need. Last year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security stepped in to authorize and offer businesses an additional 15,000 temporary work visas to help relieve the strain. While the department has the authority to do so again this year, it isn’t clear yet whether they will.

Whatever your immigration needs, The Immigration Law Center is here to help. The U.S. immigration system and processes are complex; it can be comforting to have an experienced guide helping you navigate the unfamiliar. Contact us today to learn more!