The Blaze -- Kevin J. Mooney
A case in point that is worth greater attention and scrutiny in the run up to the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries is the H-2B Visa program that was approved as part of the omnibus bill President Barack Obama signed into law in December. The provision concerning foreign guest workers is found on page 701 of the bill.
Strictly speaking, the visa program involves low-skilled temporary foreign workers; not immigrants. But within the context of presidential politics, it’s getting harder to maintain these points of separation.
A detailed description of the H-2B Visa program is available here at the Department of Homeland Security’s web site. The H-2B program is to be distinguished from the H-1B Visa, which is for high-skilled workers. The H-2B is focused on temporary, low-skilled non-agricultural workers. Organizations that favor lower levels of immigration, such as Numbers USA, have been sharply critical of the congressional push for additional H-2B Visas.“This provision would increase the job competition for some of America’s most vulnerable families during a time when jobs are still hard to find for lower skilled jobs,” Numbers USA has claimed. “Employers like to hire H-2B workers because their visa is tied to the company, which prevents many from complaining or unionizing when mistreated.”
Under the legislative change included as part of the omnibus, the number of H-2B Visa holders will be raised from 66,000 to 264,000, according to Numbers USA. But there’s a catch. This provision will only last till the end of this year. Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), and other lawmakers, have proposed what guest workers proponents view as more of a permanent fix to the program. Chabot’s Season Act would modify the way seasonal workers are tabulated under the H-2B Visa.
Read the full story at The Blaze.
