Congress has been listening to producers’ concerns about H-2A reform, according to Rep. Newhouse

The U.S. ag industry has long been asking for H-2A Visa reform. Washington state Congressman Dan Newhouse says that Congress has been listening to their concerns for several years.

“So, we’re looking at ways that we can reform our Visa programs to better suit today’s agriculture so that the workers that we have can rest assured that they’re not going to be subject to some of the deportation activities,” Newhouse states.

He says that the border crisis in recent years led to push-back on labor reform, but the policies of the new administration are helping to reduce illegal encounters at the southern border.

“Last February, in 2024, there were over 140,000 illegal attempts to enter the country. This February, one year later, that number was down to 8,000.”

The numbers for March were even lower. New data this week from the Trump administration showed a 94% drop from last March.

Related Stories
Smaller cow numbers and a declining calf crop point to prolonged tight cattle supplies, limiting near-term herd rebuilding potential.
University of Nebraska President Dr. Jeffrey Gold joined us with important insights on drug safety and rural health during the winter months.
Quinn Rutt of Upstream Ranch previews the Nebraska cattle operation’s 49th Annual Production Sale where buyers can expect standout sire groups and a blend of long-standing ranch practices with modern genetic selection.
Jim Matheson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, provides new updates on winter storm impacts and the outlook for rural power reliability.
Jessi Grote from the AgriSafe Network provides winter safety guidance for rural communities still recovering from the recent winter storm.
CattleCon 2026 officially kicks off Tuesday and continues through Thursday, bringing producers together to shape the future of the U.S. cattle industry.