politics
Rep. Andy Harris Defends Expansion of H-2B Visas Amid Party Criticism
Rep. Andy Harris, chair of the House Freedom Caucus, has advocated for increasing the cap on H-2B visas to support Maryland's seafood industry. The Department of Homeland Security plans to issue 65,000 such visas in 2026, nearing the legal maximum of 66,000. Harris faces opposition from some Republicans and unions over concerns about impacts on American workers.
Apr 12, 2:36 PM·1m read1 source
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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.
U.S. without granting full citizenship.
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.
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.
