"American agriculture relies on foreign workers, and they rely on the H-2A visa program to work legally in the United States. Despite a growing number of people applying for visa spots, the Trump administration has proposed cutting the division of the Department of Labor that enforces H-2A rules, leaving workers to choose between being vulnerable to ICE or to exploitation."
"Guest: Max Blau, ProPublica reporter covering health care, the environment, agriculture and immigration. Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking "Try Free" at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen."
American agriculture depends heavily on foreign labor supplied through the H-2A visa program. Applications for H-2A visas are increasing, creating more competition for limited spots. A proposed cut to the Department of Labor division that enforces H-2A rules would reduce oversight and protections for these workers. Reduced enforcement would leave workers exposed to immigration enforcement or to employer exploitation without recourse. Potential consequences include a shrinking pool of legal farmworkers and pressure on domestic food producers and consumers as more fields go unharvested. Policy changes to enforcement levels directly affect worker safety and agricultural labor availability.
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