For over 40 years, Congress has ignored immigration reform, creating a labor crisis for agriculture while fueling illegal border crossings. Now, U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) has joined House Agriculture Committee chairman GT Thompson to bring stability and accountability to farm labor through the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act (SAWA).
This legislation strengthens the H-2A agricultural guestworker program by codifying Adverse Effect Wage Rate formulas issued by the Trump administration’s Department of Labor last year, allowing non-seasonal operations such as dairy farms to utilize temporary workers, while helping farm laborers stay rooted in their home countries. These are critical needs for the sustainability of American agriculture.
Food security is national security. A country that can’t feed, clothe, and provide shelter for its citizens risks losing independence. The SAWA is a major step toward ensuring American farmers can continue providing the safest, most affordable supply of food and fiber in the world.
Last year, almost 415,000 H-2A guestworker positions were certified. Before any migrant laborers were hired, farmers had to advertise those positions to local workers at almost double the national minimum wage. Only 182 of those temporary agricultural jobs were filled by domestic applicants – that’s just 0.04%. The truth is many Americans simply don’t want to work on farms, even for competitive pay, and entitlement reform alone is not the answer.
We applaud Thompson for introducing the SAWA and thank Rogers for his support. My family’s tree nursery is one of several farms in Congressional District 3 that rely on H-2A workers. Rogers understands the importance of guestworkers to Alabama agriculture and the local economy. We appreciate him co-sponsoring this legislation and ask the rest of Alabama’s delegation to join him.
Unfortunately, battles that have derailed meaningful immigration reform for almost a half-century threaten this common-sense bill. It seems extremists on both sides of the aisle would rather preserve political talking points than address America’s immigration and labor crisis.
Make no mistake, Alabama farmers and conservative lawmakers like Thompson and Rogers support strong border security. We have stood with President Trump in building the wall and deporting dangerous criminals. We’ve advocated for eliminating fraud in entitlement programs and implementing reforms that encourage work.
The proposed legislation is supported by over 30 farm organizations and businesses representing Alabama farmers, including the Alabama Farmers Federation, Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, Alabama Nursery and Landscape Association, and Alabama Peanut Producers Association.
Political opponents argue the SAWA weakens immigration enforcement. This demonstrates their misunderstanding of the H-2A program and realities of farm labor. By opening the program to undocumented workers already living in the United States, the legislation would increase oversight and compliance while requiring these guestworkers to return periodically to their home countries.
Participation in the H-2A program is not a blanket pardon or pathway to citizenship. It does not waive violent crimes, drug trafficking, gang activity, terrorism, or other serious criminal or national security offenses. Workers must still be vetted by the federal government and approved each time they participate in an H-2A contract.
The SAWA also strengthens H-2A workers’ connection to their home countries. Rather than creating a path to permanent residence, the program requires workers to maintain temporary status and periodically return home. Auburn University research shows temporary visa programs like H-2A encourage workers to remain rooted in their home countries, where they invest earnings in their families, homes, farms, and small businesses rather than permanently relocating to the United States.
The time is now to reform America’s agricultural guestworker programs. Farmers have waited four decades for lawmakers to address labor needs – all while watching our food and fiber production being exported to foreign countries.
Political rhetoric won’t solve the immigration and labor crisis. U.S. farmers and consumers need courageous leaders like Rogers and Thompson. Only through common-sense reforms like the SAWA can we secure our borders, deport criminals, and provide jobs for temporary workers seeking a better life for their families back home.
A national authority on ag labor, Hunter operates an ornamental tree nursery in Alpine with his brother, Will. Hunter chairs the American Farm Bureau Federation Ag Labor Issue Advisory Committee and is the Shelby County Farmers Federation president. He also serves on the Alabama Farmers Federation board, representing farmers in District 6.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to [email protected].
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