"Zero reason to import foreign labor during a pandemic"

More than 22 million Americans have filed unemployment claims in recent weeks. That number will continue to rise, and some experts predict it could get as high as 50 million before it starts to subside in the U.S.

Even with the unprecedented unfolding joblessness, the Department of Homeland Security is still taking steps to issue more foreign worker visas (H-1B) and extend existing visas (H-2A).

In Ryan James Girdusky's op-ed "President Trump, Don't Import Guest Workers in a Recession," he says:

"There's zero reason to import foreign laborers while millions of Americans are losing their jobs. President Trump could protect American workers by canceling this year's H-1B lottery - but it looks like it's going to proceed as usual.

Even in good times, the H-1B program was rife with abuse. Congress created it in 1990 with the idea to allow businesses to import foreign workers for highly specialized jobs that couldn't be filled domestically. But the legislation was written in such a way that the program could be used to displace qualified Americans with lower-wage guest workers.

...The program has ballooned in recent years. There are now roughly 900,000 H-1B workers in the United States. They account for one in every eight tech workers. And their visas can be extended up to six years."

More than 100,000 new H-1B visas are issued every year (not counting renewals) - and some of these workers are even receiving coronavirus-related stimulus cash. Over 200,000 H-2A visas are issued every year.

If you agree that every U.S. job is precious in this pandemic, make sure that opinion is heard!

Thank you for all that you do!