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The Trump administration is planning to issue approximately 65,000 additional H-2B seasonal guest worker visas through September 30, as detailed in a Federal Register notice. These visas will be granted to employers facing significant financial challenges due to labor shortages. This initiative nearly doubles the usual annual quota of 66,000 visas available to industries such as construction, hospitality, landscaping, and seafood processing, acknowledging the potential struggles these sectors may encounter in recruiting workers.
Since returning to the White House in 2025, President Donald Trump, a Republican, has initiated broad immigration enforcement measures. He has characterized undocumented immigrants as criminals and believed they strain community resources. His administration has also implemented stricter legal immigration policies, including extensive travel bans and reviews of refugee and asylum cases.
The number of visas was also expanded during periods when Joe Biden, a Democrat, served as president, as well as during Trump’s term from 2017 to 2021. Seasonal industry employers, including hotels, have been advocating for an increase in visa numbers, citing a lack of available workers. Conversely, groups advocating for lower immigration levels argue that these visas suppress wages for U.S. workers.
Additionally, Trump has increased hurdles for tech companies seeking H-1B visas, attaching a $100,000 fee that has led to legal challenges. The temporary rule to make the extra H-2B visas available will be officially published in the Federal Register in the coming days.
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