Trump Admin Reforms Visa Program to Allow More Migrant Farm Workers

The Trump administration has made changes to the H-2A visa program that will allow more migrant workers with lesser wages.

The Details: The H-2A program "allows US employers or US agents who meet specific regulatory requirements to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary agricultural jobs," according to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The Federal Register determined in October, "The near total cessation of the inflow of illegal aliens [under President Donald Trump], increased enforcement of existing immigration law, and global competitiveness pressures [present] a sufficient risk of supply shock-induced food shortages to justify immediate implementation [of H-2As]." 

On Jan. 1, reformed rules reportedly allowed US farms to hire more workers with H-2A visas but reduced wage requirements by up to $7 per hour. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins framed the reforms as a means "to basically open up the market so that [labor shortages] can be resolved," marking a potential shift from Trump's "America First" platform. The United Farm Workers union sued over the reform, lobbying against the wage requirement reductions and arguing that H-2A workers are subject to exploitation. 

Key Quote: Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer argued in July that reforms to the program would back Trump's "America First" platform, saying, "We want to make sure that we have American workers there, but if we don't have those at the time, then we want to follow the law and assist Congress." She asserted, "It's not an amnesty program. And it's not even a new program. It's just going to be better, faster and more affordable."

For Context: Trump shifted his stance on the H-1B visa program in November, arguing the US "[doesn't] have certain talents" to fill certain jobs domestically. Amid a surge of bankruptcies and economic fluctuations, he announced a $12 billion aid package for US farmers in December.

How The Media Covered It: Media coverage of the reforms has been sparse across the political spectrum. The Independent's (Lean Left bias) coverage focused on potentially negative implications for migrant workers, while The Federalist (Right) focused on such implications for American workers. The Independent said Trump's immigration enforcement has "exacerbat[ed] the farm world's already chronic shortage of workers." The Federalist criticized the H-2A's increase "from roughly 50,000 workers in 2005 to nearly 400,000 today," arguing that wage reform "makes imported labor cheaper than American workers."

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