Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRMs)
The comment period for both of the following Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRMs) concluded last quarter: H-2A NPRM ETA-2023-0003 and H-2 NPRM USCIS-2023-0012. Industry insiders have indicated that both agencies are pursuing an aggressive timeline and intend to push forward with a Final Rule sometime in 2024. For a summary of our concerns with the rule and our full comments, please see below.
H-2A NPRM ETA-2023-0003
Attached HERE, you will find a draft of our comments, spanning 72 pages, which encapsulate our thoughtful analysis, targeted feedback, and recommendations regarding the Department's proposed rule. We recognize and commend the Department for its objectives, but we believe it is crucial to express our considered judgment that certain provisions of the proposed rules may not adequately balance the full range of interests at stake.
Our concerns extend to potential violations of the rights of H-2A employers and their employees, including constitutional Due Process guarantees and essential privacy rights. We also highlight instances where the rule's text is impermissibly vague or lacks appropriate limitations and restraints, posing risks of dangerous and costly externalities and unintended consequences.
H-2 NPRM USCIS-2023-0012
Attached HERE, you will find a draft of our comments, offering targeted feedback and recommendations for the Department's NPRM that seeks to “modernize” H-2A and H-2B program requirements and expand oversight and worker protections. We appreciate and respect the nobility of the Department’s objectives; however, it is our considered judgment that the proposed rules provisions are a mixed bag. We support many of the provisions as written but believe some of the contemplated rule changes are excessive, overly punitive, and a regulatory overreach. We believe there is ample room for improvement in narrowing the scope of some of these provisions to balance the interests, protect American economic interests, and afford employers greater Due Process protections more appropriately.