Alva Review-Courier -

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Nearly 1,800 temporary work visas have been certified in Illinois so far this fiscal year.

Most of the Illinois visas went to labor-intensive fruit and vegetable farms, the Chicago Tribune reported. There's no cap on the number of visas that can be issued.

The U.S. Department of Labor issued nearly 166,000 temporary visas in 2016. The visas more than doubled from the number five years ago.

Temporary visa workers are required to be paid a government-set wage that won't adversely affect U.S. workers. Those workers are generally paid $13 an hour, higher than the state's $...