Rep. Andy Harris Defends Expansion of H-2B Visas Amid Party Criticism

Rep. Andy Harris, Maryland's sole Republican representative and chair of the House Freedom Caucus, has pushed for expanding the annual cap on H-2B visas. These visas allow up to 66,000 temporary non-agricultural workers to enter the United States each year.

Harris visited the White House in January 2026 and urged the administration to increase the number of H-2B visas.

Harris stated to Politico that the issue concerns temporary foreign workers rather than broader immigration policy. He is among Republicans collaborating with the Senate on the DIGNIDAD Act, which aims to enhance E-Verify tools and requirements.

S. without granting full citizenship.

Opposition from Within the Republican Party Steve Bannon, host of the War Room podcast, criticized the H-2B visa expansion during a recent episode.

He discussed the matter with Rosemary Jenks, head of the Immigration Accountability Project. Jenks questioned the compassion for American workers in the DIGNIDAD Act and suggested it would lead to mass amnesty for millions of immigrants and their families. Stephen Miller, a former Trump administration official, opposed the visa increase on X last week.

Miller's statement referenced opposition to certain immigrants.

Broader Context and Stakeholder Views The DIGNIDAD Act includes a provision to exclude returning H-2B workers from annual caps, a policy previously supported by the late Sen.

Barbara Mikulski, a Democrat from Maryland who died in 2017. This approach would effectively expand access to the program over time. Some unions have also opposed the visa increase, stating it could lower wages by adding exploitable foreign workers to the labor market.

The push for more H-2B visas highlights tensions within the Republican Party between economic needs in specific industries and restrictions on temporary immigration. Companies reliant on these visas, particularly in sectors like seafood processing, stand to benefit from the higher cap.

The legislation's progress in Congress remains ongoing, with potential effects on labor availability and verification systems.