The H-2A visa program has been established for over thirty years. Thousands of agricultural endeavors across the United States rely on workers on these visas to maintain their business.

Many of President Donald Trump’s business endeavors, from Mar-a-Lago to the Trump Winery, rely on foreign temporary workers. The new administration has not taken any action to curb these visas in the first 100 days. H-2A visas may become deregulated, allowing for more foreign agricultural workers to work in the United States under these visas.

Eighty percent of agricultural laborers are foreign born, with half being undocumented. The persistence of low wages, and harsh working conditions have non-governmental organizations pushing for reform, either to streamline the H-2A visa process or to expand the number of H-2A visas granted. An increase in the number of visas issued would decrease the undocumented workforce and may lead to improved work conditions.

It will be up to the new administration to make these changes over the next several years.

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