This Issue: DHS nearly doubles the number of available H-2B guest worker visas for FY2023

Despite yesterday's disappointing inflation report that has economists expecting future job loses for American workers, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas made the decision to make an additional 64,716 H-2B visas available above and beyond the annual cap of 66,000.

H-2B visas are used by employers in the landscaping, healthcare, seafood, construction, and hospitality industries to hire cheap foreign workers for seasonal and/or temporary work. These are jobs that have historically been filled by younger American workers and those with a high school degree or less.

The program is also riddled with abuse. NumbersUSA Legal Analyst Jared Culver has more here.

The authorization for Mayorkas' decision comes from the FY2022 omnibus spending bill that authorized the Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Department of Labor, to increase the number of H-2B visas if deemed necessary. Because Congress passed a Continuing Resolution last month -- instead of individual spending bills for each government agency -- the FY2022 authorization rolled into FY2023. However, Congress is expected to vote on an omnibus spending bill during the lame duck session in December. That legislation could continue or revoke the authorization for DHS to increase H-2B visas above the annual cap.

NO NEED FOR MORE FOREIGN WORKERS

Despite a national unemployment rate of just 3.5%, the workforce participation rate continues to be low, indicating that a number of working-age American workers are sitting on the sidelines outside of the labor market.

The September labor participation rate was 62.3%. That's more than a full percentage point below the rate in Feb. 2020 (63.4%) just before the economy slowed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the labor force participation rate has yet to recover from its pre-2009 recession level of 66%.

Yesterday's announcement that the inflation rate remains high could also have a negative impact on American workers, especially those who are most likely to compete for jobs with cheap foreign guest workers. Economists expect the Federal Reserve to continue with its aggressive rate increases to combat high inflation, which will eventually lead to job losses. American workers who lose their job often turn to seasonal and temporary jobs -- the very jobs that'll be filled by H-2B workers -- to bridge the gap to a new job.

We've posted new actions on your Action Board allowing you to express your disappointment in the Mayorkas' decision to increase H-2B visas.

Chris Chmielenski NumbersUSA Deputy Director