There have been big moves this week around ag labor and the illegal workforce. Some appreciate President Trump’s recent comments looking to shield farms from deportations, but one ag lawmaker says the back-and-forth is taking a toll.
“It’s been a little confusing, absolutely has been. And I think there’s probably a little distrust out there on the part of workers and whether they should show up today or not because they’re exposing themselves. And that fear that you mentioned is real. The fear of deportations.”
Earlier this week, President Trump told reporters that he is working on a “temporary pass,” allowing
illegal farmworkers to stay in the United States while still paying taxes. Trump says farmers would have more say in the situation, too, noting America’s producers are not hiring violent offenders.
“One thing we’re seeing, though, particularly in our industry, is that the costs of the H-2A program are getting so high that it’s getting impossible for farmers to actually pay those high rates and high costs, because we also have transportation to and from Mexico. We also have the contract fees for acquiring the visas,” said Mike McCarthy.
McCarthy adds that housing costs are another expense that are on the hook for. He calls the current H-2A program unsustainable, warning he and others might go out of business without congressional action.
