The Department of Homeland Security has announced a one-time increase of 15,000 visas for low-wage seasonal workers for the rest of the financial year – in direct opposition to his ‘Buy American, Hire American’ policy.
The annual cap of 66,000 on H-2B visas – which are designed to fill unskilled jobs that Americans don’t want to do – will now be raised to 81,000.
A Homeland Security official said the increase – made at the start of the administration’s ‘Made in America’ week to highlight American manufacturing – “absolutely does” fit in with Trump’s campaign promises however.
“We’re talking about American businesses that are at risk of suffering irreparable harm if they don’t get additional H-2B workers,” he said. “This does help with American businesses continuing to prosper.”
A change of heart?
The backdown follows intense lobbying by fisheries, hospitality and other industries that rely on temporary foreign workers.
In April, Trump had signed an executive order that ordered federal agencies to review all programs under which foreign workers come into the US.
Not that he’s a stranger to the H-2B program – according to CNN, he has received 1,024 visas for temporary staff at his golf resorts since 2000.
Makes that Mexican border wall and Muslim travel ban seem a little redundant now.
