Called on the Trump Administration
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July 2, 2020 President Donald J. Trump The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: We represent the sponsors, businesses, and industries that recruit, host, and support Exchange Visitor Program participants every year. We are opposed to the inclusion of J-1 visa programs in the June 22 Presidential proclamation suspending some nonimmigrant visas through December 31, 2020. We request that the Administration use the 30-day review required by the proclamation to enable these programs to continue. As part of the Administration’s foreign policy tools, there has always been strong support for people-to-people diplomacy programs. Exchange Visitor Program participants support our economy by enabling year-round American employment in local communities and among families. Without cultural exchange participants, many American host employers will have to cut back services to customers, reducing already diminished revenue, which could lead to lay-offs of American employees. These programs are important to American businesses as many host employers have unique needs, such as being located in rural, low population areas. Families also benefit, for example, from having au pairs who provide live- in childcare and cultural enrichment. Additionally, cultural exchange programs such as Camp Counselor, Intern and Trainee, and Summer Work Travel combined contribute more than $1.2 billion to the American economy each year. By law, these participants do not displace American workers. The impact on the international exchange community from the pandemic alone is projected to result in losses to our economy of more than $233 million and nearly 7,000 American jobs. The proclamation will very likely lead to an increase in layoffs among program sponsors and their host partners in the United States, which will have a negative ripple effect throughout our economy. In addition, host families may be unable to return to work without necessary child care. In effect, the Presidential proclamation will cost, not save, American jobs. Moreover, the Exchange Visitor Program is an important cultural exchange program, not a work program. A vast majority of Exchange Visitor Program participants cite cultural exchange as the primary factor for taking part in the program. Seventy-five percent of cultural exchange participants, on average, developed a more positive opinion of the U.S. after their program experience. Many become community, business, and political leaders when they return home. Their understanding and affinity for the United States supports our diplomatic efforts worldwide. Moreover, American hosts develop a familiarity with a different culture and language. Exchange programs should be exempt from the proclamation given their role in supporting our diplomatic and national security efforts, in addition to their economic benefits. Again, we urge you to enable these programs to continue, which will support American jobs, as well as our foreign policy objectives. Sincerely, Alliance for International Exchange, Washington, D.C. 1 Atelier LLC, New York, NY 3 Brothers Pizza, Wildwood, NJ 3DISC Americas, Herndon, VA 4D, Inc., San Jose, CA 7-eleven Store #19354, Ocean City, MD Academic Year in America, Stamford, CT Acme Markets, Malvern, PA Adelaide Hostel, San Francisco, CA Adirondack Pub and Brewery, Lake George, NY Admiral Resort Inc., Wildwood Crest, NJ Adventureland Resort, Altoona, IA AdventureServe Ministries, Wilmore, KY AFS Intercultural Programs, New York, NY Agrinova Co., Miami, FL AHRC Camp Anne, Ancramdale, NY AIESEC United States, New York, NY Air Liquide, Houston, TX Aisling Irish Community and Cultural Center, Yonkers, NY AKKA North America, Dallas, TX Alaska’s Point of view, Seward, AK Alex Donuts, Inc., Salem, NH Alford Lake Camp, Hope, ME Alhonna Resort, Inc., Lake Ozark, MO All Saints Episcopal Church, Bayside, NY All Star Inn & Suites, Wisconsin Dells, WI Alliance Abroad Group, Austin, TX Alosi’s Bistro, Wildwood Crest, NJ Alpine View Properties, Lake Placid, NY Alterra Mountain Company, Denver, CO Amcor Flexibles American Canyon, Chicago, IL - 2 - American Camp Association , Martinsville, IN American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS, Washington, D.C. American English Institute, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR American Hospitality Academy, Summerland Key, FL American Immigration Council, Washington, D.C. American Inn LLC, North Wildwood, NJ American Institute For Foreign Study, Stamford, CT American International Recruitment Council, Bethesda, MD American School of Dance, LLC (dba: "American Dance Training Camps"), Austin, TX American Village of Alaska, Glennallen, AK American Work Adventures, Petaluma, CA American Work Experience, Greenwich, CT Americana Hotel, Ocean City, MD AmericInn By Wyndham Tofte Near Lake Superior, Tofte, MN AMIDEAST, Washington, D.C. Amity Institute, San Diego, CA Amma Lodging, Centennial, CO AMSCO, North Conway, NH Anaconda Public Schools, Anaconda, MT Anchorage By the Sea, Ogunquit, ME Angelo's Pizzeria and Ristorante, Sea Isle City, NJ Angels By the Sea Hawaii, Honolulu, HI Angels Rest On Resurrection Bay LLC, Seward, AK Ann Arbor YMCA, Ann Arbor, MI Apollo Motel, Wildwood Crest, NJ Apres Ski, Inc., Winter Park, CO Aqualand Ale House, Boulder Junction, WI AquaSafe Pool Management, Inc., Hanover, MD Arnolds Lobster and Clam Bar, Eastham, MA ASSE International, Inc., Laguna Beach, CA Atkinsons' Market, Inc., Ketchum, ID Atlantic Beach Club, Atlantic Beach, NY Atlantic Inn, Block Island, RI Atomium, Inc., South Chittenden, VT Attitash Mountain Service Co., LLC, North Conway, NH Au Pair in America, Stamford, CT Au Pair International, Boulder, CO AuPairCare, San Francisco, CA Austin Pool Pros, Kyle, TX Avenues: The World School, New York, NY Backyard Productions, Culver City, CA - 3 - Balance Rock Inn, Bar Harbor, ME BallenIsles Country Club, Palm Beach Gardens, FL Bandanas Restaurant, Wildwood, NJ Banners Restaurant, Inc., Conway, NH Barcelona Motel, Wildwood Crest, NJ Bay Point Inn, Egg Harbor, WI Bayside Betsy's Restaurant, Provincetown, MA Beach Daze Inc., Ocean City, MD Beach Rider Amusements, Myrtle Beach, SC Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA, Becket, MA BelCham - The Belgian American Chamber of Commerce, New York, NY Benchmark Inn, Provincetown, MA Best Buns, Inc., Provincetown, MA Big Fish Restaurant Group, Rehoboth, DE Big Fish, Inc., Sag Harbor, NY Bill's Inc. dba Warren House Pub, Bill's Tavern and Brewhouse, Cannon Beach, OR Bj's on the Water, Ocean City, MD BK Holzem Enterprises, Inc., Wisconsin Dells, WI Blue Coast Inc., Charleston, SC Blue Diamond Management LLC, Wells, ME Blue Water Cafe LLC, Grand Marais, MN Blue Water Motel, Wildwood Crest, NJ Blueberry Station, Sanbornton, NH Boardwalk Coffee House, LLC, Myrtle Beach, SC Boardwalk Convenience Store, Ocean City, MD Boathouse on the Bay, Sister Bay, WI Bonita Bay Club, Bonita Springs, FL Boreal Ridge Corporation, Soda Springs, CA Bosco Bell Store, Sanbornton, NH Box Lunch, Provincetown, MA Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB, Branson, MO Brant Lake Camp, Brant Lake, NY Brass Balls Saloon, Ocean City, MD Breakers Resort, Saint Ignace, MI Brewster Chamber of Commerce, Inc., Brewster, MA BritishAmerican Business, New York, NY Brown Ledge Camp, Colchester, VT Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, Denver, CO Brownies Hostel, East Glacier Park , MT Budding Voices LLC, Severna Park, MD Bull on the Beach, Ocean City, MD - 4 - Burntside Lodge, Ely, MN Bz On The Corner, Hampton, NH Cable Nature Lodge, Cable, WI Camp Agawak, Minocqua, WI Camp Agudah, Liberty, NY Camp Akeela, Strafford, VT Camp America, Stamford, CT Camp Androscoggin, Wayne, ME Camp Augusta Inc., Nevada City, CA Camp Birchwood for Boys, Grand Marais, MN Camp Birchwood for Girls, Laporte, MN Camp Blue Ridge, Clayton, GA Camp Bnos, Liberty, NY Camp Canadensis, Canadensis, PA Camp Cavela, Traverse City, MI Camp Chenawanda, Thompson, PA Camp Chippewa, Inc., Jacksonville, FL Camp Cody, Freedom, NH Camp Eagle Ridge, Mellen, WI Camp Echo, Bloomingburg, NY Camp Echo Lake, Warrensburg, NY Camp Encore/Coda, Sweden, ME Camp Farwell, Newbury, VT Camp Foley, Pine River, MN Camp Gig, LLC, Ann Arbor, MI Camp Greylock, Becket, MA Camp Havaya, South Sterling, PA Camp Highroad Adventure Camp, Middleburg, VA Camp Hillcroft, Lagrangeville, NY Camp Hilltop, Hancock, NY Camp Horizons, Harrisonburg, VA Camp Horseshoe, Rhinelander, WI Camp Jewell YMCA, Colebrook, CT Camp Kamaji for Girls, LLC, Cass Lake, MN Camp Kinder Ring, Hopewell Junction, NY Camp Kupugani Multicultural Summer Camp, Leaf River, IL Camp Lakotah Inc., Wautoma, WI Camp Laurel, Mount Vernon, ME Camp Laurel South, Casco, ME Camp Leaders, Austin, TX Camp Lee Mar, Lackawaxen, PA - 5 - Camp Lenox, Otis, MA Camp Livingston, Cincinnati, OH Camp Lookout, Frankfort, MI Camp Lookout and Crystalaire, Ann Arbor, MI Camp Manitou, Oakland, ME Camp Manito-wish YMCA, Boulder Junction, WI Camp Marist, Effingham, NH Camp Men-O-Lan, Quakertown, PA Camp Micah, Bridgton, ME Camp Mondamin, Tuxedo, NC Camp Mowglis, Hebron, NH Camp Nakanawa, Crossville, TN Camp Netimus for Girls, Milford, PA Camp Nicolet, Inc., Eagle River, WI Camp Nor'wester, Johns Island, WA Camp O-AT-KA, Sebago, Maine Camp Olympia, Trinity, TX Camp Oneka, Tafton, PA Camp Pemigewassett, Wentworth, NH Camp Pontiac, Copake, NY Camp Roosevelt Firebird, Bowerston, OH Camp Scatico, Elizaville, NY Camp Sealth, Vashon, WA Camp Shohola for Boys, Greeley, PA Camp Skylemar, Naples, ME Camp Sonshine, Roca, NE Camp Stonewall, Thompson, CT Camp Taconic, Hinsdale,