President Donald Trump’s administration said it was suspending enforcement of a “burdensome” farmworker rule from former President Joe Biden’s administration.
The 2024 rule provided protection for workplace organizing to foreign farmworkers in the U.S. on H-2A visas. The U.S. Department of Labor said the rule had already been suspended because of federal injunctions.
“The decision provides much-needed clarity for American farmers navigating the H-2A program, while also aligning with President Trump’s ongoing commitment to strictly enforcing U.S. immigration laws,” the department said in a statement.
“As multiple federal court injunctions have created significant legal uncertainty, inconsistency, and operational challenges for farmers lawfully employing H-2A workers, this field assistance bulletin clarifies that the department will not be enforcing the 2024 final rule effective immediately.”
The H-2A visa program allows farmers to bring in an unlimited number of foreign seasonal farmhands if they can show there are not enough U.S. workers willing, qualified and available to do the job.
The program has grown over time, with 378,000 H-2A positions certified by the Labor Department in 2023, three times more than in 2014.
That figure is about 20% of the nation’s farmworkers, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Trump said last week he would take steps soon to address the effects of his immigration crackdown on the country’s farm and hotel industries, which rely heavily on migrant labor.
EDITOR’S TAKE:
This dilemma does not have any really good answers at the moment. Would raising pay and improving working conditions help attract workers who are documented or are already U.S. citizens? The real crux of the matter is that many workers are here illegally. And, it is clear, that the farm labor groups are using economic arguments to possibly keep them from being deported. Even easing enforcement of H-2A program rules does not address the more pressing issue. There doesn’t appear to be an easy solution, these workers have been integrated into the system and replacing them would create a problem for keeping food prices under control.
This might be an opportunity to show farmers/ranchers in your area how they can save some money by using AgPack®. AgPack® could provide significant cost savings offering over $45,000 exclusive rebates and discounts on products they need or use in their operation. It might not solve the labor issues they are facing, but it could ease the burden just a little.