The recent wave of immigration raids across the US has devastated the agricultural workforce, according to the US Department of Labor. The department has stated that because many Americans are unwilling to take these jobs, the solution is to bring in more guest workers. To make this approach more affordable for employers, the Department has introduced a new rule that restructures the existing temporary agricultural work visa program—lowering hourly wages and implementing other significant changes. These changes raise serious concerns about exploitation.
A policy that undermines its own goals
In a recent statement, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins claimed that the US farm workforce would soon be entirely American. Yet, in contrast, the Department of Labor has introduced an alarming new rule to the H-2A temporary worker program, a visa for foreign nationals to work in the US for seasonal and agricultural jobs when there are not enough domestic workers available. The changes, by the Department’s own admission, is likely to drive domestic farm workers out of the sector. This move risks creating a cycle of labor shortages and deepening exploitation in agricultural work.
Speaking about the proposed changes, Antonio De Loera-Brust of the United Farm Workers told The American Prospect:
“… (the rule will) make it easier for corporate agribusiness to exploit its workers…The Trump administration would rather expand the abusive H-2A program than do right by the workers who are already here, feeding America for decades.”
The new rule reduces wages for all guest workers brought in under the H-2A program—wages that were already among the lowest in the US. And sadly, that decrease will likely decrease wages for all farm workers, regardless of legal status. As a result, even fewer American workers are expected to enter or remain in the industry.
Teresa Romero, president of the United Farm Workers said:
“The Trump wage cut is a catastrophe for American workers in agriculture who growers intend to replace with cheap and exploitable foreign guest workers,”
For those Americans currently employed in the sector, experts warn that many will be forced to leave. Meanwhile, migrant workers—facing limited options and insecure legal status—may feel compelled to accept exploitative conditions.
Expanding a system already rife with abuse
Prior to the new rule, the H-2A program had already been described as exploitative by labor advocates. Workers are prohibited from organizing and can only work for the employer who sponsors their visa. Data shows that these kinds of restrictions makes them highly vulnerable to abuse.
The new rule adds another troubling element. It allows farm employers to charge H-2A workers for housing, a practice that was previously prohibited.
Marcos Lopez of the Labor and Community Center at the University of California, Davis said:
“It’s a way for employers to continue to house workers and also charge them, and bring down effective wages,”
This change not only lowers workers’ real earnings but also risks creating conditions of debt bondage—a form of modern slavery. H2-A workers also lack basic protections domestic US workers have, like the ability to get overtime pay and unionize. Collectively, these policies reinforce a system that prioritizes profit over human dignity.
Together, we make a difference
In the face of such obvious disregard for human dignity, it’s important to remember the power of our collective voice. Freedom United, with other advocacy groups and thousands of supporters, recently helped pass groundbreaking legislation for guest workers in California.
Until the bill’s passage, foreign labor recruiters were operating in California without accountability. And that enabled unscrupulous actors to exploit workers into the agriculture sector from abroad with little fear of repercussion. But now, thanks to advocates’ efforts, California has become the first state in the nation to directly oversee foreign labor recruiters.
This victory demonstrates that change is possible. By continuing to raise our voices and demand fair labor practices, we can help ensure that agricultural workers—regardless of nationality—are treated with dignity and respect.
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