In recent weeks, the folks managing the country’s resorts, nurseries, fish processing facilities, and racetracks have started feeling the heat. They were anxiously waiting for the Trump administration to release the next round of H-2B visas, which are crucial for seasonal businesses that often struggle to find enough workers domestically.
Typically, the Department of Homeland Security rolls out these visas shortly after receiving more applications than the annual cap allows. This threshold was met on March 5, but weeks went by without a word. Industry lobbyists swung into action, urging Congress to intervene, hosting a fundraising event at Mar-a-Lago, and sending formal requests urging the administration to keep things moving.
Greg Chiecko, president of the Outdoor Amusement Business Association, which represents traveling carnivals, emphasized how critical the situation was, urging action by April 1 to avoid operational delays. “We’ve heard they plan to issue them, but they seem to be intentionally holding back a bit,” he noted.
Finally, relief came last Wednesday when an announcement confirmed the visas would be issued, allowing businesses counting on them for the summer to proceed with their plans. However, the initial anxiety underscored deeper concerns about President Trump’s approach to both temporary and permanent legal immigration. With deportations ramping up and the legal status of millions at risk, employers reliant on immigrant labor are increasingly worried. This crackdown has fueled calls for broader legal pathways for workers to enter the country.
In response, the American Business Immigration Coalition—representing businesses employing immigrants—rallied its members in Washington last week to advocate for policies that both curb illegal immigration and widen legal entry channels, offering a path for those already here to stay.
Bob Worsley, chairman of the coalition and owner of a construction firm in Arizona, has fought for worker availability for years. As a Republican who took office in 2012 to challenge immigrant crackdowns in his state, he likened immigration reform to holding back water with a dam. “The water will find a way through by sheer force. You can secure the border, but without a legal entry system, issues will recur,” he commented.
President Trump has shown some willingness to admit more legal immigrants, particularly through short-term work visas for his resorts, golf clubs, and winery. Yet, his broader immigration agenda remains murky. Attempts to clarify it have yielded little from the White House, where a faction led by deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller argues that even regulated, temporary immigration harms American workers. Alongside this view, the conservative Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 pushes to scale back H-2A and H-2B visas and suggests investing in automation instead.
Despite these challenges, Worsley’s group sees potential for progress. If the president is satisfied with enforcement efforts and Congress addresses upcoming tax cuts, there’s hope for expanding temporary worker visas and a route to legal status for longtime undocumented residents.
Last week, the group held a press conference to celebrate reintroducing significant legislation and to advocate for its passage from a Republican standpoint.
One proposal, backed by the United Farm Workers union, aims to legalize certain undocumented agricultural workers and provide more flexible visa terms. Representative Dan Newhouse, a Washington State Republican with an extensive farm, remarked that previous inaction was often excused by border chaos. “That excuse is no longer valid,” he stated, expressing optimism that this Congress might bring about change.
Miami’s Republican Representative María Salazar put forth the Dignity Act, which combines border security enhancements with paths to legal residency for undocumented workers and visa program reforms. Having received bipartisan support from the Problem Solvers Caucus, Salazar believes her bill effectively balances various interests, emphasizing, “It’s the right thing to do, the Christian thing to do, and the Republican thing to do.”
Despite repeated failures to enact comprehensive reforms, there’s growing recognition that piecemeal approaches might be necessary. A starting point could involve addressing the status of individuals brought to the U.S. as children—those protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which enjoys bipartisan support. Ohio Republican Representative Jim Jordan has indicated that immigration reforms, including measures for Dreamers, could follow current tax bill negotiations.
Texas Republican Massey Villarreal, who previously advised on immigration under President George W. Bush, sees room for change. While he wishes for a more welcoming system, the unpredictable political climate means this trajectory could shift unexpectedly. He suggests that if President Trump can be credited with a historic reform, it might motivate a comprehensive overhaul rather than small adjustments. “This administration doesn’t follow the usual playbook,” Villarreal remarked. “I anticipate a significant revamping of the process.”
Meanwhile, the administration’s actions are poised to significantly impact the workforce in sectors like agriculture and hospitality. Despite a slower pace of deportations, efforts to end temporary legal statuses and crack down on undocumented workers are causing alarm. “Employers will increasingly voice their dissent as more people lose work permits, face deportation, or stay home out of fear,” warned Richard Herman, a Cleveland-based immigration attorney.
As seasonal employers grow more reliant on guest worker visas, particularly the uncapped H-2A visas for agricultural labor, demand continues to rise. Last year, the Department of Labor approved 385,000 such positions, a substantial increase from 2019. Florida, for instance, heavily uses H-2A workers due to E-Verify mandates.
Steve Scaroni, who supplies H-2A workers in California and Arizona, noted a slight increase in client demand. However, he remains “cautiously optimistic” about Trump’s policies bolstering his business, recognizing the limitations. “If demand surges, we might hit capacity because housing is a significant constraint,” he explained.
The H-2B program, capped by law, has seen demand far exceed the 130,000 annual slots when fully allocated by the White House. In 2024, the need for these workers, determined by the Department of Labor, hit over 243,000 positions. Industries reliant on these visas argue for removing the cap or at least exempting returning workers from it.
On Capitol Hill, the appetite to dive into specifics of legal immigration reform remains subdued, with many lawmakers looking to the White House for direction. “Though many express support, they await the president’s lead,” said George Carrillo of the Hispanic Construction Council. “Once he makes a positive move, we must seize the opportunity.”
