A new report suggests the Trump Administration could be shifting its stance on immigration enforcement in agriculture.
The Washington Post reports the Administration’s reversal of prior plans to exclude farm workers from the deportation process.
The report cites unnamed sources within Homeland Security, who say farms, hotels, and restaurants will again be targets for inspection. DHS Spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin released a statement saying there will be “no safe spaces” for employers hiring undocumented workers, calling the raids essential for public safety and labor stability.
This comes following comments from the President last week supporting the longtime farm and hospitality workers.
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Roger McEowen discusses the federal court ruling on H-2A wage rates and its implications for agricultural employers.
The dairy industry is urging Congress to advance legislation to make the H-2A program more workable for year-round dairy operations.
Industry leaders and lawmakers are looking at legal pathways to address the need for farm workers.
Kansas, North Dakota, and Nebraska are states where H-2A wage rates are increasing by roughly 20 percent in some cases.
For agricultural producers, finding workers is only part of the challenge. The cost of hiring has also become a growing concern.
The National Federation of Independent Business says 27 percent of owners named labor quality or availability their biggest problem, up eight points from June.
