‘H‑2B employers paying $9‑$11 per hour’: Immigration expert says Americans are denied work even in construction

An immigration policy expert has raised concerns that American workers are losing out on jobs in sectors such as construction because of the way H-2B visas are used and paid.

Rosemary Jenks, policy director at the Immigration Accountability Project, made the comments in a short video posted on X with the account associated with Steve Bannon (Trump's former advisor) Warroom.

Jenks said she had spoken with families who feel left behind by the system. “I spent the morning talking to moms who put their kids through trade school so they could get construction jobs and they’re being denied work,” she said.

She added that the wages offered to H‑2B visa workers are extremely low and can easily be considered as cheap labour: “H‑2B employers are paying $9 or $11 an hour, even $15 for construction jobs. You can’t live in America on those wages.”



Jenks explained that the low wages offered by some employers under the H‑2B programme make it difficult for local workers to secure work. She argued that if cheap foreign labour were reduced, employers would have to raise wages to attract American workers. “These companies are going to have to raise their wages to recruit Americans. And that’s exactly what should happen,” she said.

What is H-2B

The H-2B visa is a non‑immigrant work visa that allows US employers to hire foreign workers for temporary, non‑agricultural jobs when there are not enough American workers available. It is commonly used in fields such as hospitality, landscaping, construction, seafood processing and tourism. The programme is limited to 66,000 visas per year, divided between two parts of the fiscal year, but the Congress can authorise more. H‑2B workers can stay in the United States for up to three years. Employers must pay prevailing wages and cover certain costs for the workers.

Jenks is a long‑time immigration policy commentator and co‑founder of the Immigration Accountability Project, with decades of experience at groups such as NumbersUSA and the Center for Immigration Studies.

More H-2B worker visas to be added

Moreover, US President Donald Trump’s administration will add around 65,000 H-2B seasonal guest worker visas through September 30, a Federal Register notice said. The visas would be available to employers at risk of severe financial hardship due to a lack of US labour, reports Reuters.