Friday, November 22, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Tuesday, January 29, 2019
House Republicans Call on DHS to Reverse Philippine H-2 Visa Ban
By News Release @ 10:52 PM :: 5409 Views :: National News, Republican Party

HAWAII HOUSE REPUBLICANS DISAGREE WITH FEDERAL BAN ON FILIPINO WORK VISAS

News Release fro Hawaii House Republican Caucus, January 29, 2019

HONOLULU, HI – Two members of Hawaii's House Republican Caucus are asking the Department of Homeland Security to make an exception regarding the ban on granting Filipino citizens H-2A and H-2B work visas.

Representatives Gene Ward (R-17, Hawaii Kai to Kalama Valley) and Bob McDermott (R-40, Ewa, Ewa Beach, Ewa By Gentry, Iroquois Point) issued the following statements on the matter:

"As we speak, a special meeting is taking place at the White House asking for Hawaii to be exempted from this ban," said Rep. Gene Ward. "In addition to the issue being raised to the White House, I will also be writing the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security to reconsider their decision."

"Hawaii should be a special exception due to our rich history and the role that the Filipino community has played in creating it," said Rep. Bob McDermott. "The Filipino community comprises the largest portion of our State's ethnic population, and many Filipinos utilize these visas in temporary jobs relating to agriculture, tourism, and hospitality. While I understand the valid concern on the federal level, I believe that our State could be negatively impacted if these policies are enforced across Hawaii."

Background

  • On January 18, 2019, the Department of Homeland Security announced that the Philippines is no longer on the list of countries eligible to send workers to the United States under the H-2A and H-2B federal temporary work visa programs for one year.
  • The ban stems from concerns over the high rates of overstaying and human trafficking.
  • The H-2B visa program allows American employers to bring foreigners to the United Sates to fill jobs that lack American workers. Unfortunately, DHS has estimated that nearly 40% of H-2B visa holders overstay their visas, adding to the number of illegal aliens in the United States.
  • The original DHS report can be accessed here.

###

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii Military History

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Together

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

July 4 in Hawaii

Land and Power in Hawaii

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii