Trump plans to issue about 65,000 additional H-2B seasonal worker visas to help employers facing acute labour shortages, according to the Federal Register
The administration of
Donald Trump is set to issue roughly 65,000 additional H-2B seasonal guest worker visas until September 30, according to a notice in the Federal Register. The expansion is intended for employers facing serious financial strain due to a shortage of domestic labour, Reuters reported.
The move effectively doubles the 66,000 visas made available each year to industries including construction, hospitality, landscaping, and seafood processing, acknowledging that employers in these sectors may be struggling to find workers.
A temporary rule enabling the release of the extra H-2B visas is set to be formally published in the
Federal Register on Tuesday, the notice said.
Wider immigration crackdown
The Republican leader launched a broad immigration crackdown after returning to the White House in 2025, portraying immigrants without legal status as criminals and a burden on their communities. His administration also tightened several forms of legal immigration, introducing wide-ranging travel bans and conducting reviews of refugee and asylum cases.
The number of available visas was also expanded under former President Joe Biden, a Democrat, and during Trump’s earlier 2017–2021 term. Employers in seasonal sectors, including hotels, had pushed strongly for more visas. Some construction firms reported worker shortages during Trump’s tougher immigration enforcement drive.
Groups advocating lower levels of immigration opposed the additional visas, arguing they depress wages for US workers. Trump also made it more difficult for technology companies to secure staff through the H-1B programme, adding a $100,000 fee that led to a legal challenge.
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