Office of Press Relations
I welcome the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to allocate an additional 6,000 H-2B temporary guest worker visas for nationals from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador for 2021. This expands legal pathways for protection and opportunity for the workers of these countries, while helping address critical temporary labor needs in the United States. H-2B visas allow non-agricultural workers in occupations and sectors with critical shortages to work legally in the United States for a limited period of time.
Working in collaboration with the Department of Labor, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of State, USAID supports the H-2B process in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, including connecting applicants with U.S. businesses, building capacity of Ministries of Labor, facilitating potential workers’ engagement with the State Department for visa processing, and informing them of their rights and responsibilities as temporary workers.
Today’s action builds on the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to strengthen the U.S. economy, enhance legal pathways for migration, and address the root causes of irregular migration from Central America.