Bordallo on Guam court ruling in H-2B case
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-GU) issued the following statement in response to the U.S. District Court of Guam’s recent decision, which agreed in part with Guam employers’ challenge to the federal government’s misapplication of the H-2B visa program on Guam:
“I applaud the U.S. District Court’s decision finding that local employers have been adversely impacted by the near 100 percent denial of H-2B visas [i]n Guam. Despite efforts to train and hire local workers, Guam simply does not have a sufficient workforce available to meet existing labor demands. I continue to support Guam’s employers and local businesses as they seek resolution through the courts, and I hope this decision prompts the federal government to reverse its near-unanimous denial of new H-2B visa applications for Guam.
“In the meantime, I continue working in Congress to develop long-term legislation that will provide Guam with enough workers to meet the demands of our growing community. I have heard from local employers, organizations, and the Guam Department of Labor that a solution beyond the H-2B visa system is needed. My office is also working closely with USCIS as that agency implements my provision in last year’s defense bill for partial relief of up to 4,000 H-2B visas per year for civilian and military construction projects related to the Marine relocation. This skilled labor crisis affects our entire community, and I am working diligently in Congress and with the Trump administration to resolve it for good.” (PR)