Summary
The Trump administration’s Department of Labor (DOL) warned that immigration enforcement raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are negatively affecting farms and increasing food prices. To address this, the DOL proposed lowering wage requirements for temporary farmworkers on H-2A visas, encouraging farmers to use this legal workforce instead of undocumented workers.
Key Facts
- ICE raids are leading to fewer available workers on farms, impacting food prices.
- The DOL suggests lowering wages for legal H-2A farmworkers as a solution.
- Current average wages for farmworkers are roughly $17.74 per hour.
- Farm profits are thin, and wage increases have made U.S. farms less competitive.
- The proposal could reduce employer costs by about $24 billion in 10 years.
- Changes mean workers in California could earn $16.45 or $18.71 per hour, based on experience.
- The proposal acknowledges the reliance on undocumented workers due to current high wages.
- The administration demands a solution to support farmers while managing immigration policies.
