United States Immigration Policy
The United States Immigration Policy has been built in the principles of reunification of families, admitting immigrants that are valuable to the US economy, protecting refugees, and promoting diversity. While the policy has reaped tremendous benefits from opening its doors to immigrants, students, and employees, it also brings economic, social, and political controversies towards maintaining ethnic homogeneity, workers for employers versus jobs for non-immigrants, settlement patterns, impact on upward social mobility, crime, and voting behavior. The key details about existing US immigration programs include family-based immigration, refugee admissions, employment-based greencards, diversity visas, h-1b visas, temporary permissions, DACA, and temporary-protected status.
H2-A Visa
- Temporary - seasonal agricultural positions
- Often used for picking crops
- Unlimited number of Visas offered
H2-B Visa
- Temporary - seasonal non-agricultural positions
- Landscaping
- Max 66k visas per year
- Typically returning workers are also granted a Visa (bringing total up to 120k per year)
Historical Immigration Policies
- WWII Bracero Migrant Worker Program
- Mexican workers came to the US to help farmers and ranchers
- Help was needed while Americans were at war