Latest news with #Krikorian
New York Post
11-07-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Trump offers new visa program for migrant workers after facing backlash from farmers: report
The Trump administration is launching a new visa program for migrant workers as farmers and hotel owners express concerns that their labor force is being threatened by the president's mass deportation raids. The Department of Labor's newly-created Office of Immigration Policy will help fast track visas for foreign laborers — but the administration has made it clear that the initiative is 'not amnesty' for illegal migrant workers, a senior administration official told Axios. 'This is not amnesty. It's not amnesty lite,' the official told the publication. 'No one who is illegally here is being given a pathway to citizenship or residency.' Advertisement Migrants who are in the US illegally will not be eligible for the visa program and would-be foreign workers must apply from their home country before coming to the US legally, Axios reported, citing officials. 3 The Trump administration has faced pressure from farmers over his mass deportation effort. WILL OLIVER/EPA/Shutterstock The Office of Immigration Policy will attempt to cut through regulations the Labor Department argues the Biden administration used as incentives for employers to hire illegal immigrants. Advertisement It's unclear how the Trump administration intends to expedite the visas for migrant workers. To hire foreign, seasonal agricultural workers via H-2A visas, farmers must show that there's a lack of qualified local employees to fill the roles, according to the Department of Labor. President Trump last month halted ICE raids at farms, hotels and restaurants after industry leaders raised some issues stemming from the administration's immigration crackdown. The employers, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, shared that his 'policy on immigration is taking very good, long time workers away from them, with those jobs being almost impossible to replace.' Advertisement 'In many cases the Criminals allowed into our Country by the VERY Stupid Biden Open Borders Policy are applying for those jobs,' Trump wrote. 'This is not good. We must protect our Farmers, but get the CRIMINALS OUT OF THE USA. Changes are coming!' 3 The Trump administration hopes to streamline the process for migrant farmworkers to obtain visas. AFP via Getty Images One Trump advisor told Axios that the post served as 'the bat signal to ICE' to 'leave the farmers alone.' ICE raids on farms, hotels and restaurants have since resumed. Advertisement Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, said that farmers dug themselves into a hole by not taking Trump's threats of carrying out a historic deportation campaign seriously. 'They should have known this was coming,' Krikorian told The Post. 'That's not the way it has to be done. That is the business model they have followed. And they should have known eight months ago that they needed to start making adjustments,' said Krikorian. Krikorian said these farmers have access to the 'unlimited' H-2A visa program for agricultural workers, but didn't want to shell out the extra cash to provide required wages. 3 Migrant workers tend to a farm in Florida. AFP via Getty Images He added: 'It's an unlimited program, but it has certain requirements related to pay and transportation and housing. And the farmers just want to not bother. Well, sorry, but they've had eight months to work with companies that actually arrange the H-2A process.' The Department of Labor didn't immediately respond to The Post's request for comment.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Immigration expert warns Chinese illegal aliens using Canadian city as gateway to US
An immigration expert says that the flow of Chinese illegal aliens into the United States could largely be supported by the Chinese community in a western Canadian city and that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is likely using known Canadian smuggling routes to sneak operatives into the U.S. As southern border crossings have ground to a virtual halt, the executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, Mark Krikorian, shared his thoughts on the continuing flow of Chinese illegal aliens from the north. "It would be logical if they're trying to come across the northern border instead," he told Fox News Digital. "And there are lots of Chinese people in Vancouver. I mean there's this very large Chinese population, Hong Kong population, etc." Us Northern Border Faces Great Lakes Threat From 'Bad Actors' Pressing Waterfront Weaknesses: Expert Krikorian said the Chinese population in Vancouver is not so much "teeming with spies" as it is a tool that serves as cover for potential Chinese bad actors looking to cross into the U.S. "Whether they're regular criminals or whether they're People's Liberation Army operatives, or who knows what, a Chinese community gives them a medium through which to move where they're not alien," he said. Read On The Fox News App "It's kind of like one of Mao's sayings," Krikorian said. "'The people are like the sea and the revolutionaries are like the fish.' In other words, they use the people as the sea through which [the revolutionaries] swim." Chinese National Smuggled Illegal Immigrants To American Territory As Us Sees Influx From Adversary According to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the number of Chinese nationals caught crossing into the U.S. via the northern border so far in fiscal 2025 is 4,042. The total in fiscal 2024 was 12,414. The fiscal year closes at the end of September, meaning that the U.S. is on pace for fewer crossings by Chinese nationals this year than last. "It would make perfect sense that they (the CCP) would use preexisting Chinese communities and networks as the medium through which they get into Canada and then [it's] kind of a jumping off point to get into the United States," Krikorian said. Krikorian said potential Chinese illegal aliens enter Canada in various ways, including through student visas and tourist visas, which allow them to be in proximity to the U.S. border in the first place. He also said he believes smuggling routes are well known to Chinese officials and that the smuggling is facilitated by local CCP allies. China Expands Influence Near Wealthy Florida Enclave As Migrants From Communist Country Flood Into Us "A lot of them must be hiring smugglers just because if you don't know the ropes, how do you know where to go and who to talk to and what part of the border to sneak across?" he said. "It's harder than it looks." Krikorian said he does not believe there is currently a grand conspiracy to send groups of Chinese spies into the U.S. via the northern border, especially because of the Trump administration's stricter policies on border security. An operation like that, he said, would more likely occur with more relaxed border policies like the ones during the Biden administration and that the CCP is patient and calculated enough to simply wait until America's borders are open again. However, he said it was unfathomable to think that China would give up on exploiting America's border weaknesses or using preexisting smuggling routes they have used in the past. "I think the main thing is just people coming for dishwashing jobs, like regular illegal aliens," he said. "But if there's a flow like that, the People's Liberation Army is not stupid. They're going to salt it with people they're going to want to use in the future, whether it's saboteurs or spies or what have you. "Does anybody think the Chinese Communist Party is stupid enough not to have taken advantage of this opportunity Biden gave them? No."Original article source: Immigration expert warns Chinese illegal aliens using Canadian city as gateway to US
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US northern border sees Romanian illegal immigrant influx as expert predicts what could be driving them
According to one immigration expert, relaxed Canadian visa requirements could be causing an uptick in Romanian illegal immigrants crossing the border to the United States. "First of all, the reason they're coming from Canada is that Canada lifted visa requirements for Romanians in 2017, I believe," Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, told Fox News Digital. "So it's a lot simpler to get to Canada than it is to here if you're a Romanian. And so then you sneak over the border. And why don't you stay in Canada instead of come here? I don't know." U.S. Customs and Border Protection data from the Houlton Sector in Maine shows Romanians made up less than 1% of border crossings in fiscal 2023. In fiscal 2024, that number increased to nearly 12%. Out of 344 illegal crossings in the sector, 40 people were identified as Romanian nationals. 3 Illegal Immigrants Charged After Fiery Texas Crash Leaves 1 Dead The Houlton Sector is located in northeast Maine, bordering New Brunswick, Canada. Krikorian suggested that Romanians might be trying to link up with family members in large cities. I-95 runs directly through Houlton, which may make it simpler for migrants to travel south and connect with relatives. Read On The Fox News App He explained that the majority of Romanians who leave their country flee to Italy and, to a lesser extent, Germany and other European Union countries. Still, more enterprising migrants might continue to the United States. "Italy is one of the big destinations for many Romanians," Krikorian said. "But there are going to be people who want to come here. I mean, the United States is better off than Italy, too. There's more opportunities here." Democrat Mayor Blasted For Vowing To Make Major City 'Safe Haven' For Illegal Immigrants But with changing visa requirements for Romanians wishing to enter the U.S., Krikorian expects illegal immigration numbers among Romanians to decline beginning at the end of this month. Romanian nationals will become eligible for the Visa Waiver Program at the end of March. The program allows citizens from participating countries to travel to the U.S. for up to 90 days without a visa, whether for tourism or business. Immigration Is Driving Trump's Popularity, Says Matthew Continetti Krikorian said that as a result, the number of illegal Romanian immigrants will drop, but the number of legal Romanian entrants will rise, some of whom will overstay their visas. "So illegal immigration of Romanians will just switch, will transform from border jumpers to visa over-stayers," he article source: US northern border sees Romanian illegal immigrant influx as expert predicts what could be driving them
Fox News
25-03-2025
- Business
- Fox News
US northern border sees Romanian illegal immigrant influx as expert predicts what could be driving them
According to one immigration expert, relaxed Canadian visa requirements could be causing an uptick in Romanian illegal immigrants crossing the border to the United States. "First of all, the reason they're coming from Canada is that Canada lifted visa requirements for Romanians in 2017, I believe," Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, told Fox News Digital. "So it's a lot simpler to get to Canada than it is to here if you're a Romanian. And so then you sneak over the border. And why don't you stay in Canada instead of come here? I don't know." U.S. Customs and Border Protection data from the Houlton Sector in Maine shows Romanians made up less than 1% of border crossings in fiscal 2023. In fiscal 2024, that number increased to nearly 12%. Out of 344 illegal crossings in the sector, 40 people were identified as Romanian nationals. The Houlton Sector is located in northeast Maine, bordering New Brunswick, Canada. Krikorian suggested that Romanians might be trying to link up with family members in large cities. I-95 runs directly through Houlton, which may make it simpler for migrants to travel south and connect with relatives. He explained that the majority of Romanians who leave their country flee to Italy and, to a lesser extent, Germany and other European Union countries. Still, more enterprising migrants might continue to the United States. "Italy is one of the big destinations for many Romanians," Krikorian said. "But there are going to be people who want to come here. I mean, the United States is better off than Italy, too. There's more opportunities here." But with changing visa requirements for Romanians wishing to enter the U.S., Krikorian expects illegal immigration numbers among Romanians to decline beginning at the end of this month. Romanian nationals will become eligible for the Visa Waiver Program at the end of March. The program allows citizens from participating countries to travel to the U.S. for up to 90 days without a visa, whether for tourism or business. Krikorian said that as a result, the number of illegal Romanian immigrants will drop, but the number of legal Romanian entrants will rise, some of whom will overstay their visas. "So illegal immigration of Romanians will just switch, will transform from border jumpers to visa over-stayers," he said.
Reuters
24-03-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Washington Spirit GM Mark Krikorian steps down
March 24 - Mark Krikorian has stepped down as the president of soccer operations and general manager of the Washington Spirit. The move coincides with the expiration of his three-year contract. Krikorian said he informed club owner Michele Kang over the winter that he made the "difficult decision" to leave his role. "When I came here in the spring of 2022, I wanted to help establish the Spirit as a perennial contender in the NWSL and one of the best clubs in the world," he said. "I felt that over the past three years we built a foundation that can last while assembling a roster that can immediately compete for championships." Last season, the Spirit won a franchise-record 19 matches and made the NWSL championship finals, losing 1-0 to the Orlando Pride. For now, sporting director James Hocken and assistant general manager Nathan Minion will run the club's soccer operations. Krikorian, who turns 65 this week, has spent more than 30 years working in the collegiate, international and professional women's soccer levels. Prior to joining the Spirit, he was the head coach at Florida State, where he led the Seminoles to NCAA championships in 2014, 2018 and 2021. He was named National Coach of the Year three times and won the honor in the Atlantic Coast Conference five times. --Field Level Media
