UC San Diego

This thesis critically analyzes the H-2C temporary worker program (TWP) that was part of the 2006, Senate-approved Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act. Employer opinions and lessons from past U.S. TWPs are presented, resulting in recommendations for changing H-2C's design in order to maximize its potential as a core component of future immigration reform in the United States. The paper finds that small businesses, which comprise the majority of the businesses in the United States, and are among the heaviest users of foreign labor, consider the 2006 H-2C program to be unaffordable. Policy makers must redesign H- 2C to be affordable for small businesses while still offering an effective system for protecting domestic worker interests. The paper concludes that the best means to achieve both program affordability for small businesses and effectual domestic worker protections is likely a user -friendly, electronic program process