"Small Businesses Face Cut in Immigration Work Force" - Analysis

The article can be found at: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/14/us/14visa.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&sq=small%20businesses%20face%20cut&st=nyt&scp=1.


Katie Zezina's article explains the domino effect of a Congress standoff. Only 66,000 H-2B visas (seasonal work visas) will be given out in 2008 as opposed to the 120,000 visas given out by the United States last year, with over 85,000 of those workers from Mexico. Not only are these people out of work, but their employers, having difficulty finding seasonal workers in the United States, are struggling. One owner of several restaurants, a golf course, and inn, William Zammer Jr., will be opening his businesses later and closing earlier in the season than usual. By only allowing such so little an amount of seasonal workers into the U.S., both small business owners and consumers will suffer.

It is interesting to note that the Congressional Hispanic Caucus has been the main reason for the limited amount of visas. In fact, it almost seems paradoxical that a group that should be fighting for more accomidating immigration laws would be upholding immigrants. But with these limitations, they hope the economy will suffer enough for the government to finally agree with a comprehensive immigration overhaul. (See the above article for more explanation.)

The author uses many quotations from business owners who will be affected by the diminished number of foreign workers, making the argument more convincing. She definitely agrees with the purpose question of this blog: immigrants cannot be replaced. As she mentions, "The labor pool in many resort areas is not deep enough to provide new workers, and many people do not want seasonal jobs." While some of the jobs most affected might be filled by Americans, many companies are "giving away work," something almost unheard of. The article insists that the economy will struggle without the immigrants, but whether it will be enough to alert the government can only be told with time.