States May Sponsor Foreign Worker Visas Under Bipartisan Bill

States in the US may soon play a direct role in sponsoring foreign workers under a new bipartisan bill. The State Sponsored Visa Pilot Program Act of 2026 would create a temporary visa program allowing participating states to sponsor workers or investors based on their economic and workforce needs, subject to approval by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This move is aimed at helping employers fill labor shortages while keeping immigration enforcement under federal control.

The legislation has received support from various business, immigration, and community organizations. Senators Mark Kelly of Arizona and John Curtis of Utah introduced the bill, citing persistent labor shortages across sectors including agriculture, construction, manufacturing, hospitality, and healthcare. According to Senator Kelly, 'States understand their own economic needs best, but federal rules currently determine who can live and work here.'

The proposed visa program would be voluntary, with participating states responsible for selecting workers or investors they wish to sponsor and monitoring compliance with programme requirements. However, the federal government would retain exclusive authority over background checks, national security screening, visa issuance, and immigration enforcement.