King Urges Biden to End Harmful Trump Administration Ban on Seasonal, Employer-Sponsored, and Cultural Exchange Visas

Press Release

U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) in urging President Joe Biden to rescind former-President Donald Trump's ban on seasonal, employer-sponsored, and cultural exchange visas under Proclamation 10052. In June 2020, former President Trump instituted Proclamation 10052, halting the processing of non-immigrant H-1B, L-1, H-2B, and J-1 visas, based on alleged potential risk to the labor market. Yet because the visas that Proclamation 10052 halted either target low-unemployment professions or require that the visa holder does not displace an American worker, Maine businesses and many nationwide that rely on foreign workers have struggled to fill jobs despite increased unemployment. H-2B and J-1 visas in particular are vital to Maine businesses during the busy summer tourism season, and Senator King has advocated in the past for additional visas to be allocated in order to ensure these businesses have enough staffing to effectively operate.

"The continuation of this ban creates delays and uncertainties for U.S. employers, their foreign-born professional workers, and their families," wrote King and his colleagues in a letter to President Joe Biden. "Rather than attracting talented individuals to the United States, allowing these bans to remain in effect makes the immigration system harder to navigate and drives foreign talent to other countries."

Additionally, many businesses in seasonal communities that Proclamation 10052 has affected rely on foreign workers to meet the demand of the high-visitation summer months. Failing to revoke the visa ban immediately threatens both workers and employers in these communities who cannot adequately and safely prepare for the surge season.

"Every day these visa bans remain in place undermines our collective vision for a new, more prosperous and welcoming nation. We urge you to follow through on your promise to rescind Proclamation 10052 without delay, resume timely processing of nonimmigrant visas, and direct U.S. Embassies and Consulates to open up visa appointments for nonimmigrant visas as soon as possible," concluded the senators.

H-2B workers support American jobs and small businesses, and are a vital asset to Maine's tourism industry. Bipartisan research has found a direct correlation between increased numbers of H-2B workers and a rise in pay across the board for all employees. As required by law, employers must first make a concerted effort to hire American workers to fill open positions. H-2B visas fill needs for American small businesses when there are not enough able and willing American workers to fill the temporary, seasonal positions.

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