U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) said on Tuesday that the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) has filed a motion to stay the earlier court order that resulted in the stalled processing of H-2B visas, which allow immigrants to legally work on a temporary basis in the U.S.
After a Florida U.S. District Court ruling earlier this month, the application process for these visas was suspended.
The issue is of particular importance to Collins, King and their Maine constituency. H-2B visas are used heavily by Maine’s tourism communities, which employ temporary seasonal employees. Losing this employee base could negatively affect the state’s economy during the upcoming tourist season. If the stay is approved, the Department of Homeland Security and the USDOL could resume the H-2B visa process through April 15, while the agencies develop a possible rule change to address the court’s decision.
“We are encouraged that the Department of Labor understands that this is truly an emergency situation,” the senators said in a joint statement. “Countless Maine employers rely on H-2B workers for the success of their businesses during the busiest time of the year. We continue to urge an expedient and permanent solution to this problem, which could have severe economic repercussions, not only in Maine, but nationwide.”
The legislators sent a letter to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and USDOL last week, urging the agencies to unblock the processing of H-2B visas immediately.