Ag Employers Push for H-2A Worker Processing During Shutdown

The Trump administration should deem certification of temporary visas for seasonal farm workers essential amid the ongoing government shutdown, an agriculture industry trade group urged the White House.

The Department of Labor must approve labor certifications for temporary H-2A visas before farm employers can submit petitions for workers at the Department of Homeland Security. But the DOL office that administers those certifications has frozen operations after a lapse in appropriations from Congress.

That poses major workforce risks to American farmers who are moving into their peak season, but can’t find legally authorized labor without the H-2A program, the National Council ...