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Worries grow over future of H-1B, H-2A and H-2B visa program under Trump

Donald Trump is to implement several immigration measures, but could worker visa programs really disappear?

Trump implementará varias medidas sobre migración, pero ¿podrían desaparecer los programas de visas para trabajadores? Te explicamos.
LOREN ELLIOTTREUTERS

Millions of people in the United States, especially immigrants, are filled with uncertainty about what a second Donald Trump term would mean for them. Questions abound: could they be deported, lose their citizenship, their Green Card, or even their jobs?

During his campaign and even after winning the presidential election in November, Trump maintained a hardline stance on measures he plans to implement against undocumented immigrants. The Republican promised to eliminate birthright citizenship, carry out the largest deportation program in history, and use the military to achieve this.

Looking at agricultural workers and visa programs

The president-elect has faced questions about whether his deportation plans would include the millions of agricultural workers, many of whom hold legal work permits such as H-2A visas. Non-agricultural workers may qualify for H-2B visas, while skilled workers can apply for H-1B visas. Are these programs at risk under Trump’s administration? Here’s what we know.

Workers harvest avocados.
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Workers harvest avocados.Cesar RodriguezBloomberg

The future of the H-1B, H-2A, and H-2B visa programs under Trump

H-1B visas allow US companies to temporarily employ foreign workers with specialized knowledge, while H-2B visas bring in foreign workers for non-agricultural temporary jobs such as landscaping, hospitality, and other industries.

Regarding potential deportations of both agricultural and non-agricultural workers and the economic impact these actions could have, Trump stated that legal entry would still be allowed.

“No, because we’re going to let people in, but they have to come in legally. We don’t want people coming from prisons. We don’t want the prisons of Venezuela and many other countries, and not just from South American countries. We don’t want their prisons opened into our country. We’re not taking their prisoners. We’re not taking their murderers. We’re not taking their people from mental institutions. We’re not doing that,” Trump explained in an interview with TIME magazine.

Democrats ready to counter fake fraud claims
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Donald Trump is ready for big decisions.Brian SnyderREUTERS

On the other hand, Trump has referred to the H-1B visa as a “great program.” “I’ve always liked visas; I’ve always been in favor of visas. That’s why we have them,” he told the New York Post in a phone interview. “I have a lot of H-1B visas at my properties. I’ve been a believer in the H-1B. I’ve used it many times. It’s a great program,” he added.

Trump’s reliance on H-2B visas

Despite his support for H-1B visas for skilled workers, Trump has benefited more from the H-2B visa program. According to CNN, most of the foreign guest workers employed by Trump’s businesses have come through the non-agricultural worker program.

Data from the US Department of Labor shows that, since 2008, Trump-owned companies have requested and received government approval to hire foreign labor for more than 2,100 positions. Of that total, only around 70 positions were filled by workers with H-1B visas.

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