My Blog

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Imagine a world where carnivals and circuses cease to exist. Picture the fallout for businesses nurtured over generations, the ripple effect throughout the mobile entertainment sector, and the stark reality of a future devoid of fairs and festivals. It's a dire scenario with one simple equation: No Labor equals No Carnival, leading to a cascading chain reaction of economic collapse.

In a stunning revelation, the Heritage Foundation recently unveiled a proposal called "Project 2025," a set of guidelines purportedly aimed at shaping policy for a potential second term under the Trump administration. Among the recommendations lies a chilling proposal from the Department of Homeland Security: the complete phase-out of the H-2B visa program within a decade. For many in the mobile entertainment industry, this spells nothing short of disaster. Although the Trump administration has not openly supported Project 2025 but close allies of Trump including his former cabinet members such as Paul Dans are founders Project 2025. 

In a public statement from the Trump campaign aimed to clarify and draw the line on Trump's stance on this issue.

“The efforts by various nonprofit groups are certainly appreciated and can be enormously helpful. However, none of these groups or individuals speak for President Trump or his campaign,” campaign advisers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita wrote in a statement.

Yet conflicting videos from Trump's rallies have surfaced with alarming contradictory stances on immigration. Such videos emerged from Trump claiming if elected he would enforce the “the largest deportation in American history” that according to Project 2025 will aslo affect anyone aiding immigration including Universities, individuals and Dreamers. 

The manifesto from Project 2025 clearly states that their aim is to get support from any republican presidential candidate, not just Trump.

Now, with "Project 2025" looming ominously on the horizon, the urgency to act has never been more pressing. The H-2A and H-2B visa programs serve as vital lifelines, bridging temporary and seasonal labor gaps in both agricultural and nonagricultural sectors such as the mobile entertainment industry which includes carnivals and circuses. The H2 visa program is monumental to a variety of businesses staying a float such as agriculture, hospitality, trucking transportation to name a few as we are all aware of the big supply chain shortages of truck drivers.  However, the Mandate casts a shadow over these programs, aiming to gradually phase out the H-2 visa initiatives over the next 10 to 20 years. In the meantime, it directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to halt any updates to the list of countries eligible for H-2 visas.

Among the most distressing proposals of Project 2025: 

• Plans to impede federal financial aid for a significant portion of American college students if their state allows specific immigrant groups, such as Dreamers with legal status, to access in-state tuition.
• Additionally, the termination of legal status for 500,000 Dreamers is on the table, achieved through the elimination of staff resources dedicated to reviewing and processing renewal applications. 
• Furthermore, the utilization of backlog figures as a trigger for automatically suspending the intake of applications for major categories of legal immigration is deeply concerning. Moreover, the decision to suspend updates to the annual eligible country lists for H-2A and H-2B temporary worker visas looms large, effectively excluding a vast majority of populations from filling crucial labor gaps.
• These proposals seek to bar U.S. citizens from qualifying for federal housing subsidies if they reside with non-U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. 
• Additionally, states would be coerced into sharing driver’s licenses and taxpayer identification information with federal authorities, with the threat of losing critical funding looming overhead. Such measures not only perpetuate division and discrimination but also erode the fundamental values of inclusivity and fairness that define the American Dream.

What can we do? Advocate for the Carnivals Are Real Entertainment (CARE) Act  (HR Bill 1787) by reaching out to congress members to sponsor the bills so no matter what the uncertainty of immigration would be the CARE ACT will protect jobs and businesses in the carnival industry. 

An important bipartisan bill to hit the floor of congress named CARE ACT  this spring of 2024  that could save the future of H2 seasonal visas for the mobile entertainment industry from making carnivals extinct. But this issue goes beyond the carnival industry affecting many other sectors such as restaurants, hotels, roofing,  truck transportation, agriculture and landscaping just to name a few. The alternative could be an epic disaster for businesses that would go out of business without the essential H2 visa workers it needs to survive. 

Enter the CARE ACT (HR Bill 1787), a glimmer of hope amidst the gathering storm. Unlike its formidable counterpart, this legislation offers a feasible path forward. It corrects an oversight in immigration language dating back to 1992, which inadvertently favored foreign circuses over their domestic counterparts. The CARE ACT not only rectifies this historical injustice but extends its provisions to encompass all facets of the mobile entertainment industry.

However, the road ahead is fraught with challenges. While the CARE ACT addresses critical issues facing the industry, it does little to alleviate concerns surrounding the H-2B visa cap. Consequently, garnering widespread support necessitates a united front from within the mobile entertainment community.

The time for action is now. The convergence of political, economic, and social factors presents a rare window of opportunity, one that may not reappear for decades. We must seize this moment, rallying together as a cohesive force for change. To ensure the safety of our carnivals and circuses no matter who is elected in 2025 since the CARE ACT is aimed to protect the mobile entertainment industry for many years to come.

Upon my research for this article, I came across the OABA website, full of resources about CARE Act  and advocacy. While organizations like the OABA (Outdoor Amusement Business Association) provide valuable resources and guidance, the onus is on each individual within the industry to take proactive steps towards advocacy. 

In the face of uncertainty, let us not falter. Let us unite behind a common cause, channeling our collective energy towards securing a thriving future for generations to come. Together, we can defy the odds, and ensure that the American Dream endures for all who seek it. The time to act is now. Support the CARE ACT. We can do it.

#careact #project2025 #election

Project 2025 policy: https://www.project2025.org/policy/

CARE ACT Advocacy https://oaba.org/pageserver/care-act

CARE ACT video: https://oaba.org/images/site/pageserver/media/CARES-ACT-Video.mp4