This primer on the history of ag worker visas is so helpful. I don’t think I even knew there was still a visa specifically for ag work. I thought it ended with the Bracero program. Is the H-2A visa only for seasonal work? So workers are allowed (and expected) to go home in the off-season? Also, if this visa program exists then why do so many people seeking to work ag jobs cross the border without legal status? Is it because the number of H-2A allowed is far less than what is needed & employers are willing to fill the gap with undocumented workers? The whole thing seems like such a mess!
It still is a mess and now heavily weighted to benefit of the farmers and not the "workers". Oh, if only they could be seen as "people" like the farmers themselves ,then just maybe the farmers would be willing to treat them as fellow human beings who have dignity and need to be treated that way.
I had read that even during WWII, some farmers (particularly in Texas) still went outside the official channels of the Bracero Act so they could set their own wages and terms for hire. The Mexican government limited the number of workers they would send, so perhaps laborers who did not make it into the Bracero program were willing to fill these illegal roles and bear and risk exploitation with no government oversight.
It breaks my heart to hear of the labor crisis that exists in our country over the use of foreign "workers" being hired under the H-2A program instead of Americans ( people). So, the Trump approach to farm labor right now is to deport undocumented "workers" and allow them to re-enter the USA as H-2A "workers" because of the rules that allow the employers to use their labor at a reduced cost allowing for less benefits to the laborer ,thus increasing the likely hood of greater profits to benefit the employer at the expense of the poor "worker". This will continue to exacerbate the lives of the "workers " and most likely shorten their lives in the process because of harder working conditions than what was originally intended by the W. Bush administration now modified by the Trump bunch . Just another prime example of the greedy, heartless mentality of the rich over the poor that hasn't changed for as long as I can remember.
Oh, to have more leaders who want to help "the least of these. " I can think of one who does think like this and his name is James Talarico and is running to unseat John Cornyn in Texas in 2026. He's definitely got my vote and may more like him join the fight against the oligarchs in America today.
The H2A program guarantees the employee (workers) a better than minimum wage - which in WA state is $17/hr PLUS they get free housing (highly regulated) and free transportation. These workers get mandatory breaks and sick leave, they also have access to L&I if needed. The workers will get paid even if the farmers crops fail. So they are guaranteed a wage for a specific time frame even if they do no work.
This program is ABSOLUTELY pro-worker.
It also requires the farmer to pay ALL of its workers this more than minimum wage - so your high school student working on the farm gets paid this higher wage too.
Please educate yourselves on ALL the regulations included in the H2A program.
My question is why do we require farmers to house their temporary employees but not Ski Resorts? There are ski resort employees in CO who live in their cars because they cannot afford to live in the high cost ski resort towns. Skiing is a luxury - food is not. We need to rally around farmers if we want to eat and not go broke feeding our families.
Did you see the changes they're making to the program? REDUCING the wages by $1-$3 and allowing the farmer to deduct housing costs from their wages.
"Trump’s changes to the H-2A program have been praised by farmers. In addition to easing the guestworker application process, the administration reduced hourly wages by $1 to $3, in alignment with the wage formula under President George W. Bush. In perhaps the biggest change to a program that has historically expected employers to provide either housing or a housing reimbursement for workers, the Trump administration is now allowing employers to deduct pay for guestworker housing. The Department of Labor projects these changes will together save farmers $24 billion in the next decade."
To my ears that sounds like farmers having free reign to charge workers whatever they see fit for housing, leaving the workers with nothing to live on or send home. How is that fair?
My guess would be that in relation to farming, it's a need. We need workers because we need food. Not that I don't think we shouldn't support farmers. But farmers also need workers too. Requiring certain things entices people into those jobs. I do agree that many workers in seasonal jobs aren't treated well. I lived in a tourist area for almost 14 years. I saw many workers in the hospitality industry who were treated terribly by not only their employer but their landlords as well. It's something that needs to change.
The administration does not need to come out and say "we're racist." It's written all over their policies and actions, from cruel and inhumane deportations to these rule changes to H-2A visas that will ultimately allow poorer working conditions for a population that has no voice to organize or fight back. It's disturbing. Food security directly ties to national security. What does the administration think they're playing at?
This primer on the history of ag worker visas is so helpful. I don’t think I even knew there was still a visa specifically for ag work. I thought it ended with the Bracero program. Is the H-2A visa only for seasonal work? So workers are allowed (and expected) to go home in the off-season? Also, if this visa program exists then why do so many people seeking to work ag jobs cross the border without legal status? Is it because the number of H-2A allowed is far less than what is needed & employers are willing to fill the gap with undocumented workers? The whole thing seems like such a mess!
It still is a mess and now heavily weighted to benefit of the farmers and not the "workers". Oh, if only they could be seen as "people" like the farmers themselves ,then just maybe the farmers would be willing to treat them as fellow human beings who have dignity and need to be treated that way.
I had read that even during WWII, some farmers (particularly in Texas) still went outside the official channels of the Bracero Act so they could set their own wages and terms for hire. The Mexican government limited the number of workers they would send, so perhaps laborers who did not make it into the Bracero program were willing to fill these illegal roles and bear and risk exploitation with no government oversight.
It breaks my heart to hear of the labor crisis that exists in our country over the use of foreign "workers" being hired under the H-2A program instead of Americans ( people). So, the Trump approach to farm labor right now is to deport undocumented "workers" and allow them to re-enter the USA as H-2A "workers" because of the rules that allow the employers to use their labor at a reduced cost allowing for less benefits to the laborer ,thus increasing the likely hood of greater profits to benefit the employer at the expense of the poor "worker". This will continue to exacerbate the lives of the "workers " and most likely shorten their lives in the process because of harder working conditions than what was originally intended by the W. Bush administration now modified by the Trump bunch . Just another prime example of the greedy, heartless mentality of the rich over the poor that hasn't changed for as long as I can remember.
Oh, to have more leaders who want to help "the least of these. " I can think of one who does think like this and his name is James Talarico and is running to unseat John Cornyn in Texas in 2026. He's definitely got my vote and may more like him join the fight against the oligarchs in America today.
The H2A program guarantees the employee (workers) a better than minimum wage - which in WA state is $17/hr PLUS they get free housing (highly regulated) and free transportation. These workers get mandatory breaks and sick leave, they also have access to L&I if needed. The workers will get paid even if the farmers crops fail. So they are guaranteed a wage for a specific time frame even if they do no work.
This program is ABSOLUTELY pro-worker.
It also requires the farmer to pay ALL of its workers this more than minimum wage - so your high school student working on the farm gets paid this higher wage too.
Please educate yourselves on ALL the regulations included in the H2A program.
My question is why do we require farmers to house their temporary employees but not Ski Resorts? There are ski resort employees in CO who live in their cars because they cannot afford to live in the high cost ski resort towns. Skiing is a luxury - food is not. We need to rally around farmers if we want to eat and not go broke feeding our families.
Did you see the changes they're making to the program? REDUCING the wages by $1-$3 and allowing the farmer to deduct housing costs from their wages.
"Trump’s changes to the H-2A program have been praised by farmers. In addition to easing the guestworker application process, the administration reduced hourly wages by $1 to $3, in alignment with the wage formula under President George W. Bush. In perhaps the biggest change to a program that has historically expected employers to provide either housing or a housing reimbursement for workers, the Trump administration is now allowing employers to deduct pay for guestworker housing. The Department of Labor projects these changes will together save farmers $24 billion in the next decade."
To my ears that sounds like farmers having free reign to charge workers whatever they see fit for housing, leaving the workers with nothing to live on or send home. How is that fair?
My guess would be that in relation to farming, it's a need. We need workers because we need food. Not that I don't think we shouldn't support farmers. But farmers also need workers too. Requiring certain things entices people into those jobs. I do agree that many workers in seasonal jobs aren't treated well. I lived in a tourist area for almost 14 years. I saw many workers in the hospitality industry who were treated terribly by not only their employer but their landlords as well. It's something that needs to change.
The administration does not need to come out and say "we're racist." It's written all over their policies and actions, from cruel and inhumane deportations to these rule changes to H-2A visas that will ultimately allow poorer working conditions for a population that has no voice to organize or fight back. It's disturbing. Food security directly ties to national security. What does the administration think they're playing at?
This is such helpful information! Thank you so much.