Holland Reporter

On May 1, 2023, Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-MI) and a bipartisan group of Michigan representatives, released a letter to Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in opposition to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) proposed fee increases for small business employers. 

The rule, proposed by the Biden Administration in January, would raise the cost of the H-2A petition fee for named workers from $460 to $1,090 and increase H-2A petition fees for unnamed workers from $460 to $530. Additionally, the rule would create a new $600 fee on various other work visas, including H-2A and H-2B, to directly finance our overburdened and broken asylum program. This fee would negatively impact a variety of Michigan industries ranging from agriculture to tourism that utilize these visas.

The Members of the Michigan Delegation wrote, “…we believe such a sharp increase in fees would compound the impact of the increased costs the agriculture economy is facing right now.  We are concerned this will make running an agricultural operation more difficult, limit job opportunities for Americans, raise prices for consumers, and harm our nation’s food security. With these considerations in mind, we request DHS reconsider the implementation of these significant fee increases within the rule. We look forward to working with DHS on improving visa services on behalf of the Michigan businesses we represent and protecting our borders.”

Joining Congressman Huizenga on this bipartisan letter are U.S. Representatives: Dan Kildee, Lisa McClain, Elissa Slotkin, Jack Bergman, Rashida Tlaib, John Moolenaar, Hillary Scholten, Tim Walberg, Debbie Dingell, John James, and Haley Stevens.

You can read the full letter here 

Original source can be found here.