AUSTIN, Texas (RFD News) — There is a growing need for agricultural workers across the country, but industry leaders say few U.S. applicants are filling those jobs.
RFD-TV Correspondent Frank McCaffrey spoke with Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling about the H-2A visa program, which allows agricultural employers to temporarily hire foreign workers when they can show there are not enough available U.S. workers.
Sonderling said the program gives farms a legal way to bring in seasonal workers.
“There are lawful programs to bring in seasonal workers through the H-2A program to be able to at least make sure that these generational farms and the farms throughout south Texas have immediate lawful workers to be able to pick these crops.”
Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar also supports the program, saying agricultural workers are needed.
“H-2A, which is for the ag, and we certainly want people to come in the legal way, they work, they go back. That’s what we want because there’s a need for ag workers.”
Texas Farm Bureau State Director Brian Jones said the need is significant, with 152,000 empty jobs nationwide last year and fewer than 80 applications followed up on by U.S. citizens. He added that many crops still rely on workers for hand harvesting.
Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz is supporting other approaches, including the Bracero 2.0 program. She also pointed to the bipartisan Dignity Act, which addresses border security, the legal immigration system and legal status for certain undocumented immigrants.
Correspondent Frank McCaffrey reporting for RFD News.
