The Complex Impact of Foreign Workers on American Farms
The number of seasonal foreign workers on U.S. farms has quadrupled over the past decade, with farms increasingly relying on guest workers to address labor shortages. The H-2A visa program allows employers to bring in foreign farmworkers on a temporary basis when they cannot find enough workers in the U.S. However, the program is plagued with labor rights violations, and both labor advocates and farmers have concerns. While the program provides essential work opportunities for foreign workers, it offers no pathway for them to stay in the U.S. beyond the harvest. Additionally, the program is expensive for farmers and comes with significant red tape. Enforcement gaps have led to wage theft and other abuses, with some cases involving slavery-like conditions.