The Biden administration will issue 64,716 additional H-2B visas for FY 2025, supplementing the annual 66,000 limit. This is the third consecutive year of total H-2B visa usage. Of the additional visas, 20,000 are reserved for workers from Guatemala and Haiti, while 44,716 are for returning workers.

The visas address labour shortages in the hospitality and seafood processing industries. Employers must prove no qualified U.S. workers are available for the jobs. These visas will be allocated throughout the year, especially during the peak summer season. Further details will be available in an upcoming final rule.

Keir Starmer emphasizes immigration control as a key cause of labour. He advocates for Italian-style migration deals to reduce Channel crossings. Starmer criticized the Tories for failing on immigration, blaming their focus on uncontrolled markets.

Labour is shifting from traditional progressive views, framing border security as a necessary goal. Starmer vowed to fight people-smuggling gangs, contrasting the costly, ineffective Rwanda scheme with Labour’s record of increased deportations.

Labour’s approach seeks to address voter concerns, with 83% prioritizing illegal immigration over legal migration. Starmer’s stance challenges Labour’s troubled history on immigration while navigating an increasingly complex political landscape.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau admitted his government could have acted sooner to address flaws in immigration policies. He highlighted "bad actors", including corporations and educational institutions, exploiting programs for profit.

In response, Canada plans to reduce permanent residents to 395,000 by 2025 and significantly cut temporary immigrants by 2027. The fast-track study visa program was also terminated, affecting Indian students the most.

Trudeau framed the cuts as essential to easing housing shortages and stabilizing costs. Public pressure and scepticism toward immigration policies have grown, with concerns linking high immigration rates to inflation and housing crises ahead of the 2025 elections.