RAISING THE VISA CAP

Maine’s forestry and hospitality industries could again face a labor shortage later this year if Congress does not raise the cap, at least temporarily, on the number of visas available to foreign workers.

In 2004, the federal government for the first time enforced the national limit of 66,000 visas for seasonal foreign workers. The cap was reached in March. Last year, the cap was reached in January. Because southern states need their workers earlier in the year, the cap was more harmful to Northeastern states.

In Maine, some stores, restaurants and hotels were short-staffed because the cap was enforced. Some mills temporarily shut down since wood was slow to come out of the forest because not enough workers could be found to cut it.

A temporary solution, supported by Maine’s senators, was to allow foreigners who had worked legally in the United States under an H2B visa in the past to return to the country without being counted against the visa cap. This allowed another 35,000 workers into the country. Without congressional action this exemption will expire in September. At a minimum, the exemption must be extended.

This will allow restaurants, landscaping and logging companies and other businesses to serve their customers. It will also give Congress time to come up with a longer-term solution that addresses valid concerns about immigration.

While reform of our immigration system is needed, a complete overhaul will take time. Businesses in Maine, and other states, that rely on temporary foreign workers to do seasonal work cannot wait until the reform is done. They needed workers during the tourist season and the wood-cutting season. And they need these workers every year.

A temporary increase in the cap or allowing workers who have worked in Maine in the past to return will avoid business disruptions without jeopardizing immigration reform efforts.