According to the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP), more than 2,200 small businesses called on the Trump administration to immediately release the 64,716 supplemental H-2B visas authorized by law.
According to NALP, these visas are critical to sustaining U.S. businesses, protecting American jobs, and keeping everyday goods and services affordable for families across the country. The American economy depends on a reliable, legal, and timely workforce to keep essential industries running, NALP stated.
Thousands of small and seasonal businesses from across the country asked the Departments of Homeland Security and Labor to exercise its authority to immediately release these visas, as has been done for several years by both the Trump and Biden administrations. Last month, a bipartisan group about one-third of the Senate and more than 40 U.S. Representatives also sent letters to the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Labor asking for the immediate release of these crucial supplemental H-2B visas.
Seasonal industries, including landscaping, hospitality, forestry, construction, amusement and recreation, and seafood processing, are facing severe labor shortages that threaten their ability to operate at full capacity. Employers are required to recruit American workers first, and only when no willing, qualified U.S. workers are available can an H-2B worker be hired.
“The H-2B program is essential to the success of seasonal industries like landscaping, especially as we continue to face a severe workforce crisis,” said Britt Wood, CEO of NALP. “Confidence that this Administration will continue to support the program provides the certainty landscape companies need to invest in growth, purchase new equipment, and deliver the high-quality services their customers rely on.”
Leaders from other industries also commented:
“With major global events around the corner, ensuring the hotel industry is equipped to provide exceptional guest service and hospitality that the traveling public expects is essential. That’s why H-2B visas are critical. These visas help hotels address persistent labor shortages and provide guests with the level of service they expect,” said Rosanna Maietta, president & CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. “With millions preparing to travel for the FIFA World Cup or those celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary, it’s imperative that the Departments of Homeland Security Labor release the maximum allowable number of supplemental H-2B visas. Doing that now, means hotels will have enough time to fill their workforce gaps and be fully staffed ahead of peak season travel.”
“It’s critically important for ski areas of all sizes to supplement their workforce with H-2B visa holders. These workers allow us to be fully staffed, open earlier in the season, and offer more terrain for our guests,” said Michael Reitzell, president and CEO of the National Ski Areas Association.
“H-2B visa workers allow the Alaska seafood processing sector to fill critical positions in highly remote areas of Alaska that enable the remainder of the industry to operate every year. Consequently, 24,000 Alaska fishermen can sell 5 billion pounds of fish caught each year to processors, and tens of thousands of other jobs are supported throughout the supply chain,” said Julie Decker, president, Pacific Seafood Processors Association.
“It’s vitally important that we increase the supply of housing in our communities. A key part of that is having a stable workforce available to build homes,” said Ken Gear, CEO, Leading Builders of America (LBA). “Even as LBA’s Building Talent Foundation works to train US workers to come into our industry, we still need the additional supports provided by the legal workforce participating in the H-2B program.”
According to NALP, releasing the supplemental H-2B visas is a bipartisan, economically sound action that supports U.S. businesses, American workers, and consumers. These visas are already authorized and expected by employers across the country who have demonstrated a legal need for seasonal labor. Delaying release places avoidable strain on businesses, workers, and families. Immediate action will strengthen the economy, protect U.S. jobs, and help keep essential goods services accessible and affordable for all Americans.