World Immigration News

President Carter had to balance employers’ demands for foreign workers with pressure to restrict immigration – and so does Trump

Release Date: 2025-01-29
Media: The Conversation
Summary: President Donald Trump promised to deport as many undocumented immigrants as possible during his campaigns, contrasting with former President Jimmy Carter's immigration policies. Carter reformed the H-2 visa, which allows foreign workers to work temporarily in the U.S., by balancing employers' needs with protections for American workers. Trump, however, focuses on mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.

Carter expanded the H-2 visa program in 1977 to meet labor demands, especially in agriculture, and introduced regulations that required employers to offer better wages and working conditions. The 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act further split the H-2 program into H-2A (agriculture) and H-2B (non-agriculture) visas.

Today, the H-2A visa program has grown significantly, while the H-2B program remains limited. As Trump’s deportations begin in 2025, the debate over expanding H-2B visas may become contentious among Republicans, as employers will continue to need low-wage labor. Despite the challenges, the U.S. may continue to expand access to guest worker visas as an alternative to employing undocumented workers.
Tags: United States of America

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