Trump Administration Doubles the Number of Temporary Foreign Workers
The Trump administration recently announced its decision to double the number of foreign seasonal workers for the current year. On January 30, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) jointly announced nearly 65 thousand additional H-2B visas for the fiscal year 2026. This is about twice the number of these visas issued annually to hire foreign citizens. And it doesn’t sit well with America-First conservatives in the country.
Unlike H1-B visas – which are for “highly skilled” workers and can put foreign employees on a path to citizenship – the H2-B visas are issued to foreign, non-agricultural seasonal workers who will temporarily be in America and doing jobs that Americans supposedly don’t or won’t do, as claimed by the American businesses and government. These foreign workers would take such jobs as in hospitality, catering, construction etc. The issue is whether their hiring helps or hurts America more.
The government is telling us that H1-B helps the country by filling the labor roles needed by American businesses and the increase in the number of seasonal workers wouldn’t impact job opportunities for Americans. The announcement on the State Department’s website (February 2) says:
The secretary of homeland security, in consultation with the secretary of labor, considered the needs of businesses and other factors, including the impact on U.S. workers and the integrity of the H-2B program.
But many conservatives don’t take the government’s word for it, even if it’s the Trump administration assuring them. The claims that Americans aren’t good enough or aren’t really interested in these menial or lower-paying jobs have become a position contrary to America-First conservatism. New Hampshire-based conservative account on X “War for the West” slammed President Trump after the H-2B visa increase announcement by the DHS and DOL. He wrote:
“Those jobs used to be ladders for non-college grads. If you worked hard you’d become a supervisor/manager. Or so skilled that you could make a decent middle class living.”
Christian conservative American Kaylee Campbell expressed the same concerns in her video response to the news of increasing H-2B visas. Expressing her disappointment in how the Trump administration has carried its promise of mass deportations, Campbell reminded that all these incoming foreigners exploit the legal loopholes to replace Americans and take their jobs. She shared that many messages to her complained losing their tech jobs because the employers wanted Indian workers and the same would be the case in H-2B work force – foreigners given entry-level jobs that Americans could do or easily learn to do.
Nick Hankins, a Republican Candidate from Oklahoma running for the US Senate this year, reposted Campbell’s video and supported ending the H-2B visa scheme altogether while bringing H-1B visas down to a bare minimum.
SeafoodSource.com, which covers issues related to the seafood industry, reported (February 3) that the increase in H-2B visas follows the letter by more than 30 Senators to DHS and DOL asking for such a raise in the number of seasonal workers because of “chronic labor shortages” faced by American employers. The story also reported that some seafood processors have recently pulled back from hiring H-2B workers from abroad and instead turned to domestic workers because of the cost, complexity, and uncertainty of the H-2B system.
The X account of the Ethnic American Podcast condemned the Trump admin’s raise in the number of H-2B visas and wrote that these kinds of policies are akin to an invitation to invade
America.
What brown person would come to America right now with a pretty good risk of ending up in an African war zone. Cecot, Alligator Alcatraz, or worse: Louisiana. If you’re not dead before you get there for the crime of having an accent while brown.
This is doa from the git go.
My favorite idiot Frank Dunger was probably sundowning in the afternoon when he posted this bullshit. If people don’t come here legally they should be rounded up and shipped out. The answer???? Get documented and vetted. You stupid asswipes in the commiecrats party makes everything about race. But that’s ok. The wonderful ICE patriots are doing a great job. And it’s interesting that you idiots want the agents identified so they can be put in danger by the cowards on the left. So, Dunger, you’re running out of steam. And there’s still us citizens who have their backs. You call yourself danger. That doesn’t matter because mostly you’re a fucking dumbass. Possibly a little danger there but mostly stupidity. So come on and show us how dangerous you really are. And I’ll show you how dungerous you are. Hey!!! I coined a new phrase.
Hammon: thanks for proving what a danger I do present to you really getting under your skin to the point you don’t even understand the topic in your blind rage against the danger.
The article is about H-2B visas.
You are talking about the undocumented.
Different topic.
I do not see Trump’s reasons for making this decision. I cannot agree with anyone who lumps these lawful immigrants in with the illegal immigrants that are here due to Biden’s incompetence and must be returned to their homes.
This is yellow journalism. Providing only one side.
The stratetgy should come clear soon, Trump knows that we need more workers and he knows that illegals who are gainfully employed are contributing to America. A new path will emerge.
Joe, you should know by now that Mr. Professor of Everything is always going to slam you, especially you because he is so damned against you and also me. He shows how much he hates women, political figures on the “other side”, anyone that tries to tell their truth DJT, Republicans/Conservatives and America. That IS TRUE. IT shows up every time he mouths off against anything and everything. He just has to show how smart he is but that doesn’t mean intelligent. I am so sick of his hate. No one should be allowed to be like he is and still stay on being hateful when others, me for instance, are deliberately left out of it because you people don’t send me your emails unless it is ads. I was surprised I got your storyline email this morning. That’s called discrimination and it hurts. But then, this is dominated by thinkers below the belt! I probably won’t even check back for a reply that will be non-believable.
Joe: would that strategy be TACO? Trump, strategy, oxymoron? I do find it fascinating to see Republicans, like you, “divine” that they know Trump’s mind, or lack thereof. Remember what you said about that old man: Biden? This guy falls asleep everywhere, rambles incoherently all the time, has a green hand, puffy ankles, babbles on about too much aspirin, takes yearly cognitive tests a few times a year, mri’s for some reason, he does not even know —- what are they looking for?
Recently, he said he did not know why Gabbard was stealing voter files from Georgia. She said Trump sent her. Seems to be a light on, but nobody’s home.
He claims he’s for the regular Joe, that’s how he got elected. But only the rich are benefitting from his “strategy” which is also granting the Trump family billions in grifted gains.
I am sorry, but we seem to be watching a man in decay propped up by sycophants seeking power. You are supporting a habit that is harmful to your health.
If Trump knew what you say he knows, why did he promise to deport 20M undocumented? Why is he cruelly removing anyone brown from our streets; why does he go to places of gainful employment and wreak havoc?
My point stands: Trump PR has pretty much ended any brown person from coming to America where they can’t walk down the street for fear of being snatched, beat up or worse, and disappeared. Family separation rides again.
I would love to see a new path versus this shit storm.
But Joe, you got to ask yourself, if a “new path” emerges, why the hell did we waste all this money, put 19M people in fear for their lives; such fear that many are sheltered in place? Why shoot and kill all the folks Trump has? Just to have a “new path?” If it’s TACO and he just let’s some stay, was he strategy just far, all those BILLIONS spent, a good idea?
Try E-Verify: no work, no pay, no stay to end the undocumented problem. Now, figure out what to do with 19M unemployed, broke, hungry people: QUICK. It’s a Republican bill that all you need is no-johnson Johnson to bring to a vote. A good number of Democrats support; it was in the bipartisan bill you voted down. Over 22 States have it today, but not for all jobs. Make it the law for the land, for all jobs. Better to spend our money there growing GDP, than waste our tax dollars on tracking, arresting, putting in newly built detention centers, and then pay for transport home. At least Democrats brought it to the floor. I think both parties have used immigration as a tool for votes, both parties have not even attempted to address immigration in it’s totality. And ICE is a larger secret police force larger than most standing armies. Ask yourself: what are these mercenaries gonna do when the last brown person goes home? Probably more my issue than yours. Unless you care about ALL Americans.