Trump halts Marianas H workers

Statement

Marianas employers' unlimited access to workers with H visas was blocked by President Trump. The President issued Proclamation 10052 suspending entry of workers with H-1B, H-2B, L, and J visas nationwide, with some exceptions, citing the unemployment of U.S. workers caused by COVID-19. Unlimited access to H visa workers was an original provision of the 2008 Consolidated Natural Resources Act, which extended federal immigration to the Marianas. And I extended that special benefit through 2029 in the U.S. Workforce Act, Public Law 115-218. It was intended to make foreign workers available for specific temporary jobs, especially in construction, when there are not enough Commonwealth-only Transitional Worker, CW, permits and no U.S. workers. But unlimited H visas could also provide a new avenue for economic development in the Marianas, because U.S. firms that use H visas to hire high-tech workers from overseas regularly cannot get all the visas they want. This week's proclamation does not apply to individuals who are already in the U.S. or had a visa valid as of June 24, 2020. Green card holders, immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, workers for jobs essential to the food supply chain, or whose entry is in the national interest are exempted. CW permits are not affected.

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