The 2020 population census revealed that many rural areas in the United States have seen a decrease in population, while urban and suburban areas have grown. The decline in the rural population has caused agricultural labor shortages, underscoring the need for immigration reform. » Read More

Scranton, Pennsylvania, Mayor Paige Cognetti, along with 83 other mayors from across the nation, sent a letter to President Joe Biden; Vice President Kamala Harris; U.S. Senate Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-NY; and U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-CA. The letter urges Congress to make swift immigration reforms, considering the economic benefits of legalizing immigrants and the acute labor shortage. » Read More

The United States is facing severe labor shortages in its agriculture, meatpacking, and poultry industries. In response to the problem, Iowa State Farms, one of the state’s largest pork producers, is pressuring U.S. Senators to allow for a year-round flow of immigrant workers. » Read More

Businesses in busy tourist areas, which count on summer months for the spike in travelers, are struggling to hire sufficient workers to meet their high labor demand. Employers are feeling the slump in workers the hard way, as COVID-19 restrictions are being relaxed and most states have fully reopened. » Read More

In March of this year, the U.S. saw a record high of 8.1 million job openings. Many businesses are now struggling to find workers as they reopen and return to their normal operations. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has openly called out to Washington to make way for more foreign workers to enter the country. » Read More

New Bill Proposed to Make Health Care Coverage More Accessible to Immigrants

Several House Democrats have introduced a new bill aimed at making health care benefits more accessible to immigrants in the United States. One of the bill’s main sponsors, Washington Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, stated that “we must finally guarantee health care to everyone as a human right – regardless of immigration status, income, employment, or anything else.” » Read More

Higher Education Groups Plead for Government to Speed Up Student Visa Processing

Several education organizations, including the American Council on Education, have submitted a letter to the U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security urging faster international student visa processing before the start of the fall 2021 semester. » Read More

Trump Administration Extends Restrictions on Visa Applications for Foreign Workers

The White House has extended through March 31, 2021, restrictions on visa applications and entry into the United States for certain foreign national workers. The restrictions had been set to expire on December 31, 2020. » Read More

A lawsuit has been filed against the new Department of Labor (DOL) H-1B wage rule, seeking a preliminary and permanent injunction. Many analysts, such as the National Foundation for American Policy and economic researchers, believe that the new H-1B wage rule acts as a deterrent to H-1B employers by significantly raising the minimum wage required to employ foreign workers. » Read More

Federal authorities charged four executives at Speed Fab-Crete Corporation, a Kennedale, Texas construction and precast concrete company, and the owner of Take Charge Staffing, a Texas workforce staffing agency, for conspiracy and other felony offenses related to knowingly employing undocumented immigrants, individuals who were not lawfully authorized for employment in the United States. » Read More