Presidential Proclamation Suspends Entry of H-1B, H-2B, J-1, L-1 Visa Workers into the U.S. – Important Exemption for H-2B Food Supply Chain Workers

By Brian Breaux

Louisiana Farm Bureau Sr. Commodity/Public Policy Director

President Trump issued a Proclamation that suspends the entry of H-2B, H-1B, J-1, L-1 Visa workers into the U.S. until December 31, 2020 due to high U.S. unemployment. The Proclamation does not stop entry of H-2A Visa workers and does not apply to visa workers already in the U.S. 

Our concern, H-2B Visa workers are employed in agricultural processing such as at sugar mills, crawfish and seafood peeling plants, as well as at meat and poultry processing facilities. The good news is the Proclamation provides the following exemption for visa workers employed in the “United States food supply chain” that should allow most agricultural processing workers to enter the U.S.: 

(b) The suspension and limitation on entry pursuant to section 2 of this proclamation shall not apply to: 

(iii) any alien seeking to enter the United States to provide temporary labor or services essential to the United States food supply chain; 

There are concerns that H-2B processing delays could occur at Consulates because “food supply chain” workers are not identified on H-2B applications. Some agricultural industries that use H-2B workers where the “food supply chain” exemption may not be applicable such as forestry/timber and nursery/landscape will be negatively impacted by this Proclamation. 

We will send more information as it becomes available and please contact me at brianb@lfbf.org or 225-603-0924 if you have any questions.