WASHINGTON DC—JULY 18, 2017—The Department of Homeland Security announced Monday the federal government will issue an additional 15,000 visas under its H2-B visa program this fiscal year, a decision that could benefit trainers who rely on the program for backside help.

The announcement comes following pressure from American businesses that contended that they are facing a shortage of workers. Industries that benefit from the guest-worker program include fisheries, hotels, and industries such as racing.

The impact on the racing industry is expected to be limited, considering the new visas will only be available for workers through the end of the fiscal year Sept. 30. Most backstretch workers are hired for longer periods of time than seasonal workers sought by industries such as seafood processing and hospitality.

"It’s good news for maybe a handful of trainers under certain circumstances, but it certainly doesn’t resolve the issue," said Alex Waldrop, the president of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, which lobbies the federal government on issues affecting the racing industry.

In May, Congress passed a budget bill allowing the Department of Homeland Security and the Labor Department to issue additional visas this year depending on an industry’s "economic need." The cap 66,000 visas on the program is a quota that was already reached at the time the bill was passed.