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Seasonal Immigrant Workers Are in High Demand. America’s H-2B Visa Program Isn’t Keeping Up.
Foreign workers have long provided critical support to American businesses in the busy seasons—filling temporary, seasonal jobs when domestic workers were not available. This support—almost always of manual labor—is possible due to the H-2 visa program, which Congress created in 1952 with the aim of “alleviating labor shortages … particularly in periods of intense production.” […]
Read MoreTemporary Protected Status: What’s Up With That?
On October 17, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that Secretary Mayorkas was designating the country of Lebanon for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Through this designation, DHS expects that as many as 11,000 Lebanese individuals currently in the country will be eligible to apply for a potentially renewable 18-month protection to remain in the […]
Read MoreThe Expanding Role of H-2B Workers in the United States
Congress established the H-2 visa program in 1952 to allow U.S. businesses to directly hire seasonal foreign guest workers when American workers were not available, with the aim of “alleviating labor shortages … particularly in periods of intense production.” During the Reagan Administration, Congress created separate visa programs: the H-2A visa, for temporary agricultural workers; […]
Read MoreMass Deportation on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Maybe you saw us featured on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver? The mass deportation of millions of undocumented individuals would be tremendously expensive and would have a catastrophic impact on our economy—one that would be expansive and impact every American. Read the full report and see below for findings to share with your communities. […]
Read MoreCollective Action Protections for H-2A Workers Face Uphill Legal Battles
In April, the Department of Labor (DOL) published an expansive regulation aimed at increasing protections for the growing number of temporary agricultural workers entering the United States on H-2A nonimmigrant visas. A key component of the regulation establishes new protections for H-2A workers to engage in collective action to advocate for themselves or others regarding […]
Read MoreMore than 100 Business Leaders Sign onto Council Letter Urging the Biden Administration to Address the Work Permit Backlog
WASHINGTON, OCTOBER 25, 2024 — Today, the American Immigration Council joins over 100 business organizations, including chambers of commerce and trade associations throughout the country, to call on the Biden administration to address the work permit backlogs. The letter urges the Biden administration to prioritize the processing of initial and renewal work permit applications. According […]
Read MoreTorrance County Detention Facility’s Troubling Role in Detaining Haitian Migrants During the 2021 Del Rio Incident
Table of Contents Background Methodology & Organization Analysis of Detained Individuals Race and Ethnicity Analysis Placements into Torrance in 2021 Haitians at Torrance Abuses Continue into 2022 Conclusion Executive Summary The Torrance County Detention Facility (Torrance) is one of approximately 200 facilities across the United States where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detains immigrants with […]
Read MoreNinth Circuit Upholds Rights of Asylum Seekers, Rules “Metering” Unlawful
In a decision issued on Oct. 23, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals largely affirmed a lower court decision that found the U.S. government’s systemic practice of turning back asylum seekers (“metering”) at the U.S.-Mexico border is unlawful.
Read MoreThe Origins of Birthright Citizenship in the United States, Explained
For over a century, the United States has applied the principle of jus soli, or birthplace-based citizenship, to grant American citizenship to anyone born on U.S. territory regardless of their parent’s immigration status. But over the past few decades, anti-immigrant politicians have advocated for the restriction of birthplace-based citizenship to deny birthright citizenship, primarily to […]
Read MoreImmigrants Do Not Commit More Crimes in the US, Despite Fearmongering
Written by Yared Avalos Iniguez, Communications Intern and Hannah Boyke, Research Intern Across the globe, immigrants are increasingly being blamed for committing crimes, with right-wing groups often leading the charge. In the United States, this rhetoric has intensified as politicians aim to demonize immigrants during the election season. However, a wealth of research has discredited […]
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