The largest and most populated cities in the United States ask the current Joe Biden administration to expedite work permits for immigrants. It is a fact that the labor force of those who arrive in the country is increasingly urgent. In many cases, employers take a risk and hire undocumented people, but that is not the most viable or legal solution. In Los Angeles, for example, District Attorney George Gascón opened an investigation against the city’s hotels. It turns out that this key sector hired undocumented Venezuelan migrants to perform cleaning tasks, among other jobs. The cause? Legally contracted employees are on strike; They demand better salaries and conditions.
“The mistreatment of vulnerable workers and their exploitation will not be tolerated,” stated the prosecutor. It is a latent fact, the United States needs more workers. Most of them need papers to be able to fill the 9.6 million vacancies that exist in the country.
Dialogue at the White House
The issue has become recurrent, especially in the country’s large cities. By the way, the White House received the mayors of Denver and Chicago last week to discuss the issue. Both attended on behalf of five Democratic legislators who also demand that Biden expedite the procedures for temporary work permits.
This would be an ideal way for the thousands of migrants living in shelters today to support their families while their cases are resolved. Likewise, it would allow cities to relieve a humanitarian emergency in the face of the record numbers of border crossings registered during the current Administration.
Added to the claims of the aforementioned mayors were those of their counterparts from Houston and Los Angeles. All cities are in need of labor, as urgently as possible. Los Angeles, for example, launched a job fair this week in hopes of filling 7,000 vacancies. Where they are needed most is in the cleaning and services area; 20% of the places are free.
Several economic experts believe that expanding the number of H-2B visas granted by the United States would help solve the worker shortage. This visa allows non-agricultural employees to work for nine months. This type of permit is very common among restaurant, construction, and factory workers.
