The Labor Department has issued a warning that the Trump administration's immigration policies could lead to an increase in food prices. This concern stems from an expected decrease in agricultural labor and a rising demand for fresh produce. The department stated that a reduction in immigrant labor would worsen the existing agricultural labor shortage and remove a cost-effective labor source that growers have come to depend on.
Despite wage increases, the department noted there is no evidence that unemployed or underemployed U.S. workers are entering the agricultural workforce in significant numbers. Without sufficient labor, agricultural employers may struggle to maintain operations, putting the nation's food supply at risk. An interim rule proposed by the department suggests lowering pay for seasonal agricultural workers on H-2A visas, a program that has seen a substantial increase in participation over the past two decades.
The Trump administration has been focused on stricter immigration enforcement, including increased deportations and reduced border crossings. A White House official stated the administration is committed to reforming temporary worker visa programs and is enforcing laws to support farmers and ranchers. The agriculture industry is already facing challenges from the administration's tariff policies, which have contributed to rising grocery prices and impacted specific sectors like soybean farmers who have lost their largest purchaser, China, to other suppliers.
The Labor Department highlighted that the combination of reduced illegal immigration and a lack of available legal workfor... download the app to read more
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