Why is DHS Delaying the Additional H-2B Visas Authorized by Congress?

{2:06 minutes to read} A recent article in the New York Times has highlighted the fact that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not yet extended, or increased, the number of H-2B visas, despite the fact that Congress authorized an increase. It seems logical that Congress would not have authorized it if they did not intend for DHS to issue these visas.  

These visas are for seasonal workers who typically come into the United States for periods of 6, 8, or 10 months in order to work for companies that have a high need for employees during certain periods of time. Here on the east end of Long Island, traffic in the Hamptons explodes during the summertime. If you travel to the Hamptons at this time of year, you will see "Help Wanted" signs everywhere you go.

We represent pool companies, restaurants, hotels, convenience stores, 7-11s and other types of convenience stores, and they're all suffering. The season hasn't even started, in the sense that the warm weather is just now beginning to arrive. These people are frantic because they cannot get U.S. workers to do these jobs, and the government has effectively prevented bringing in additional H-2B workers for the season, despite the fact that Congress has authorized DHS to issue those visas.

What is the holdup? These are people entering the United States legally, to take jobs that U.S. workers don't want. These are jobs that employers need to advertise, and begin the very difficult, time consuming and expensive recruitment process, in order to satisfy the Labor Department that they're not taking jobs away from U.S. workers.

It's hard to understand how putting these companies out of business is going to help the U.S. labor market. And it's going to cost American jobs when these businesses are forced to close or curtail hours and services.

It is really becoming an emergency that this administration doesn't seem to care about.

Mitchell C. Zwaik

Zwaik, Gilbert & Associates, P.C.
5014 Express Drive South
Ronkonkoma, NY  11779
www.zwaik.com