Skip to content
Home » farmer » Farmers push for Immigration reform to counter labor shortages and rising food prices

Farmers push for Immigration reform to counter labor shortages and rising food prices

Better Immigration Laws could help lower food prices

Counter labor shortages. Farmers in the U.S. are pushing towards immigration reform because it will ease counter labor shortages and lower food prices. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act already passed by the House and currently in the Senate would provide farmers with reliable employees by making a path to citizenship for undocumented agricultural workers and reforming seasonal farmworker visa programs. The Senate version of the legislation would expand the H-2A temporary work visa program to provide undocumented farmworkers year-round work-based residency with an eventual pathway to citizenship.

counter labor shortages

counter labor shortages

The farm operators say the Farm Workforce Modernization Act will give them a stable, reliable workforce by creating a path to citizenship for undocumented agricultural workers and reforming the seasonal farmworker visa program. Section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a), 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a), which permits U.S. employers to bring temporary foreign workers into the United States to perform seasonal agricultural work. To qualify for H-2A nonimmigrant classification, the petitioner must: Offer a job that is of a temporary or seasonal nature. Demonstrate that there are not enough U.S. workers who are able, willing, qualified, and available to do the temporary work.