Overview

• The Department of Labor has established the Office of Immigration Policy as a one-stop shop to cut red tape and speed visa processing for H-2A farm and H-2B hospitality workers.
• Officials emphasize that the initiative requires all applicants to complete paperwork in their home countries and does not grant legal status to those currently in the United States without authorization.
• Industry groups warn that an estimated 70% of unauthorized farmworkers have departed, fueling concerns over unharvested crops and service gaps in hotels.
• Conservative hardliners such as Mark Krikorian argue that any facilitation of foreign labor equates to amnesty, prompting internal White House disputes.
• The office’s launch follows a temporary pause in farm raids after President Trump’s June 12 post and reflects ongoing tensions between enforcement priorities and economic needs.