WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) commended the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Labor (DOL) for agreeing to release 30,000 additional visas under the H-2B Temporary Non-Agricultural Worker Program. These new visas will only apply to returning workers.
Congressman Higgins authored a letter to DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen on March 6, urging her to raise the H-2B visa cap. He also met with Secretary Nielsen on March 11 to discuss the importance of H-2B visas to the seafood and ag processing industries in South Louisiana.
In both the 115th and 116th Congress, Congressman Higgins has introduced legislation that would create a 3-year returning worker exemption to mitigate the annual shortage of H-2B visas.
Congressman Higgins issued the following statement:
“Seasonal workers are a critical component of Louisiana’s economy, and many of our industries such as crawfish, shrimp, and sugarcane processing rely on the H-2B program. Without a sufficient labor source, these industries would be forced to close shop. Today’s decision is a win for Louisiana and ensures that businesses in our state will be able to continue operations without delay. My office has worked closely with DHS on this issue, and I’m thankful for Secretary Nielsen’s swift action.”
