On Monday, October 6 at 2:00 p.m. ET, three experts will brief Congressional staff on the need for increased transparency within nonimmigrant visa programs that authorize employment, sometimes known as “guestworker” programs. Daniel Costa, EPI’s Director of Immigration Law and Policy Research, Cathleen Caron, Executive Director of the Global Workers Justice Alliance, and Tiffany Williams from the Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking, will discuss nonimmigrant visa programs, the need for more transparency, and the Transparency in Reporting to Protect American Workers and Prevent Human Trafficking Act.

Currently, the U.S. nonimmigrant visa system lacks important transparency measures needed to protect American workers and temporary workers alike.  Each visa category has different reporting requirements, and only some of the information collected through the visa process is made public. Due to these reporting gaps, the federal government and the general public lack important information about who employs these workers, what work they perform, and the workers’ countries of origin. Without greater transparency, millions of workers can end up hidden and vulnerable.

Recently, Representatives Frankel, Deutch, and Himes introduced H.R. 5197, the Transparency in Reporting to Protect American Workers and Prevent Human Trafficking Act. This legislation would create a standardized reporting system across all nonimmigrant visa categories that authorize work, and require this information to be made public.

Please RSVP to Kelsey Moran with Rep. Frankel’s office at kelsey.moran@mail.house.gov or 202-225-9890.

WHAT: Congressional briefing on the need for increased transparency within nonimmigrant visa programs

WHEN: Monday, October 6 at 2:00 p.m. ET

WHERE: Rayburn House Office Building 2103

WHO: Daniel Costa, EPI Director of Immigration Law and Policy Research
Cathleen Caron, Executive Director of the Global Workers Justice Alliance
Tiffany Williams, Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking