The H-2A farm labor program could see growth in the coming years, but the Congressional movement is stalled as border security remains the top priority, according to Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma.
He says the Administration now has the authority to increase the number of workers allowed in the program, potentially doubling it, but it is up to the Administration to make a decision on that.
“What we have done is we have increased the Administration’s ability to add more people to the program; they get up to double that program, but it’s up to the Administration to make a decision on that. But they have that authority already. I don’t see anything moving through Congress right now on it. Quite frankly, the President’s first focus has been to secure the border, after he feels like the border is secure, and it stays secure, and everything’s in place, and all the legal challenges are finished, after that, I really think the President’s going to turn and say we got to deal with some of the other areas.”
We have previously reported that Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-Deremer says consolidating the H-2A program under one department will speed up the process and lower costs for farmers. She adds that Congress still controls visa numbers and aims to employ more American workers without replacing them.
