Trump says changes are coming to ICE raid policy: 'We must protect our farmers

[bythoughts]

The following is from Google AI:

Cost to employer of H2A visa

The H-2A visa program, designed for temporary agricultural workers, involves various costs for employers. These can include:

1. Labor Certification:

• Application fee: $100.
• Per-worker fee: $10 per certified H-2A worker, up to a maximum of $1,000.
• Surety bond: Required for H-2A labor contractors (H-2ALCs) with amounts varying based on the number of certified workers: $5,000 for fewer than 25 workers, up to $75,000 for 100 or more workers.

2. Non-Immigrant Worker Petition (Form I-129):

• Filing fee: Normal fee is $1090, but smaller employers and nonprofits pay $545. The fee varies based on if the workers are named or unnamed beneficiaries, and whether the employer is a small employer or nonprofit.

3. H-2A Visa Application:

• Consulate fee: $205 per worker, which must be reimbursed by the employer in the worker's first paycheck.
• Border stamp fee: $6 per worker.
• Agent fees: May be around $100 per worker.

4. Transportation:

• Inbound transportation: Employers are responsible for providing or paying for transportation and meals to the worksite, or reimbursing workers for reasonable costs once 50% of the contract is completed. This can range from $400 to $650 per worker, depending on the country of origin.
• Daily transportation: Employers must provide free daily transportation between housing and worksites.
• Return transportation: Employers must pay for or provide return transportation and meals to the worker's home country after the contract is completed.
• Transportation to grocery store: Workers living in employer-provided housing must have access to transportation to a grocery store each week.

5. Housing:

• Housing costs: Employers must provide housing at no cost to H-2A workers and to corresponding U.S. workers who cannot reasonably return home daily. Estimated housing costs can range from $9,000 to $13,000 per worker.
• Meals or cooking facilities: Employers must provide either 3 meals a day or a place to cook with free and easy access for workers.

6. Miscellaneous Costs:

• Association fees: If applicable, around $200.
• Workers' compensation: Employers must provide workers' compensation at no cost.

Important Notes:

• Wage requirements: Employers must pay the highest applicable wage rate, which is typically the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR). The AEWR varies by state and type of work.
• Reimbursement: Employers can deduct certain expenses, like transportation and daily subsistence, from wages, but these must be reimbursed once 50% of the contract is completed.
• Illegal fees: Be wary of recruiters or agents who ask for large upfront payments or guarantee visa approval, as this could indicate fraud.

This information provides an overview of the costs associated with the H-2A visa program for employers. Specific costs may vary depending on the individual circumstances of the employer and the workers.

Nearly all of that cost is housing. What exactly is the alternative? Are they supposed to pee and poop in the fields where they pick your strawberries?

 

[ttwtt78640]

Nearly all of that cost is housing. What exactly is the alternative? Are they supposed to pee and poop in the fields where they pick your strawberries?

OK, but how many employers provide housing for their employees (or pay their rent)?

The majority of farm workers are renters and find housing through the private market. Nationwide, there is a shortage of affordable housing and no state has an adequate supply of affordable rental housing for low-income renters. For example, in California which has the most farm workers there are only 24 affordable and available rental homes per 100 extremely low income renter households. In Florida and Texas, this number is 25. This means many farm workers reside in substandard and crowded housing at inflated prices or are homeless.

Housing - NFWM

Background Farm workers commonly face substandard housing conditions. Many workers pay high prices to live in crowded, unsanitary conditions which often lack basic utilities. They also often live in isolated areas far away from vital services, such as health clinics, grocery stores, and public...

nfwm.org

 

[bythoughts]

OK, but how many employers provide housing for their employees (or pay their rent)?

Well, most anti-immigrant groups have said they want to drive out cheap illegal labor to raise the standard of living. At least to the point where people who work hard in the fields can afford not to be homeless? I don't know if they all have to be H2A but nobody can solve the problem of undocumented labor if they don't either give up on the labor, or give laborers some kind of document.

 

[Deuce]

Nuanced policy due to supply of critical labor, (farm workers are critical, if underpaid) I especially like seeing Trump amend his
previous policy to protect farm workers

I too like amnesty for illegal immigrants. Glad you've finally come around to our side of this.

 

[noonereal]

oh they are in meatpacking and construction, and roofing and hospitality. But none of those occupations are supply chain critical like crops

Really? You gonna sleep in the dirty sheets from the people in the room before you?
You gonna stop eating meat?
You are not going to replace your roof after a storm blows off a chunk of it?
You have no need of new construction?

Tell me again how only your tomatoes are critical. You know how dumb that sounds?

 

[Lord Tammerlain]

The major downside to that idea (concept of a plan?), is that “actual CRIMINALS” typically become so only after they have been convicted of creating actual VICTIMS. How many more actual VICTIMS of illegal aliens are acceptable to you?

The number of victims of illegal aliens that is acceptable should he equal to the number of victims of American citizens don't you think

Or is some how a crime by an illegal alien worse

 

[j brown's body]

Really? You gonna sleep in the dirty sheets from the people in the room before you?
You gonna stop eating meat?
You are not going to replace your roof after a storm blows off a chunk of it?
You have no need of new construction?

Tell me again how only your tomatoes are critical. You know how dumb that sounds?

I've never understood why ICE doesn't simply arrest the people coming to clean their hotel rooms.

 

[anatta]

Really? You gonna sleep in the dirty sheets from the people in the room before you?
You gonna stop eating meat?
You are not going to replace your roof after a storm blows off a chunk of it?
You have no need of new construction?

Tell me again how only your tomatoes are critical. You know how dumb that sounds?

Im not about to argue critical supply chains. fresh crops are labor intensive ( more so then processed foods which are more amendable to machine picking) and tomatoes are the least of it. I can grow those without even trying

 

[anatta]

I too like amnesty for illegal immigrants. Glad you've finally come around to our side of this.

no that's WAY too far away from what I want. limited VISA H2-A reform to try to establish a seasonal worker program that realistically allows Mexican and central Americans to come and go with the crop seasons

 

[NolanVoyd]

no that's WAY too far away from what I want. limited VISA H2-A reform to try to establish a seasonal worker program that realistically allows Mexican and central Americans to come and go with the crop seasons

Lol.

You are a city slicker.

 

[anatta]

I just read that Trump added the "hotel" industry, meaning hospitalities.

Another Trump "impulse" unraveling in real time. Mind you, I support deporting most illegals BUT clearly, he does not know what he is doing. Typical Trump.

Hospitality was added because 1/3 of all workers are migrants. I believe the forthcoming XO is about reducing their priority for immigration actions (administrative and ICE both)..lol..I think from the bits and pieces I read.

 

[ttwtt78640]

The number of victims of illegal aliens that is acceptable should he equal to the number of victims of American citizens don't you think

Or is some how a crime by an illegal alien worse

Crimes committed by someone who should have been detained and deported were preventable.

 

[Metric Mouse]

We need to automate out your job and all the jobs of your family members and people in your community.

That'll fix the economy.

/s

Right up there with "we'll put a lot of coal miners out of work!"

 

[Hamish Howl]

"We must protect our farmers from my shitty policies."

 

[Individual]

Ask your Hispanic fiends about being stopped for DWM - Driving while Mexican. Unfortunately that is a common experience from what my American Hispanic friends tell me. And, it has been going on for years.

It is a rotten thing to think but I suspect that the same attitude will happen to non-citizens return to work in the U.S. with a ICE approved ID. Can you imagine the constant hassle of being fecked with because of your skin color and/or your last name? It would not be surprising if a large number of Hispanic people say, "To hell with it, it's not worth the trouble and there are no guarantees with this administration. They cannot be trusted. With Trump things could change again at any moment. His word means nothing."

No need to ask anyone as where I live I frequently have been stopped to show my passport and visa, which I do and sometimes am asked to have a selfie taken and if they're not busy a little friendly conversation.
In the States I remember traffic stops checking for license, registration and insurance. Is that no longer done? Many year ago I was stopped by some plain clothes police who thought my vehicle was used to haul moonshine and after checking my trunk and removing my rear seat they returned my license and left me to replace my rear seat. I had flipped the leaf spring hangers which raised the rear a few inches and they thought that showed an empty tank for moonshine.
Perhaps if there were not millions of people who have entered the country illegally such actions wouldn't be necessary.

 

[Individual]

Whoa!

When did you become a liberal?

I'm neither a liberal or a conservative.
Those who have entered illegally would have to become documented by arriving at a legal entry point, so they would first be required to self identify, be deported or leave on their own, and after a predefined period of time show up at a legal entry point where they would be documented and given a non immigrant id allowing them to enter and work in the U.S. for a defined period of time which could be extended by immigration services as long as they abide by the rules. They would not be entitled to government assistance, and be treated like those who have entered with a passport/visa but have permission to work, leave and reenter using the card as long as it is kept valid.

 

[Individual]

Too sensible. It would never fly with either Trump's Peckerwood base, nor with Union bosses.

To get things done, IMO, requires getting something to fly with a majority of the people regardless of party. That's how a democracy begins to work in a republic.

 

[Individual]

Stick to the plan (campaing promise?) of “mass deportation” of all illegal aliens, which is all the executive (alone) can (presently) do.

IMHO, congress should pass an eVerify mandate, coupled with changes to the FIT code, allowing the IRS to act as the primary enforcement mechanism. Once the (W-2 and 1099) US employment ‘magnet’ is removed then many (if not most) ‘undocumented’ immigrants will elect to self-deport.

Does my post #216 help?
I've lived nearly 4 decades as a, self supporting, non immigrant, legal resident, law abiding person, required to maintain a valid passport, current 1 year visa, and periodic check in with immigration. Citizens too are required to carry ID, and readily comply when asked to show it. My Daughter when asked for Her passport, shows Her citizen ID.

 

[NolanVoyd]

I'm neither a liberal or a conservative.
Those who have entered illegally would have to become documented by arriving at a legal entry point, so they would first be required to self identify, be deported or leave on their own, and after a predefined period of time show up at a legal entry point where they would be documented and given a non immigrant id allowing them to enter and work in the U.S. for a defined period of time which could be extended by immigration services as long as they abide by the rules. They would not be entitled to government assistance, and be treated like those who have entered with a passport/visa but have permission to work, leave and reenter using the card as long as it is kept valid.

Why not just "doccument" them here?

 

[Individual]

Why not just "doccument" them here?

Not obvious? Legal entry/exit to the U.S. can ONLY be accomplished at a legal entry/exit point, where non citizens can be documented and provided with a record of entry/departure, any other means would ONLY result in being deported.
Setting a precedent is step 1 in resolving the issue.

 

[Lord Tammerlain]

Crimes committed by someone who should have been detained and deported were preventable.

Nearly all crimes are preventable

 

[j brown's body]

Not obvious? Legal entry/exit to the U.S. can ONLY be accomplished at a legal entry/exit point, where non citizens can be documented and provided with a record of entry/departure, any other means would ONLY result in being deported.
Setting a precedent is step 1 in resolving the issue.

How's that working out?

 

[NolanVoyd]

Not obvious? Legal entry/exit to the U.S. can ONLY be accomplished at a legal entry/exit point, where non citizens can be documented and provided with a record of entry/departure, any other means would ONLY result in being deported.
Setting a precedent is step 1 in resolving the issue.

Such nonsense.

If the issue is doccumentation we can give them doccumentation where they live. No need for them to leave and come back. Its an unnecessary extra step.

They would have come legally the first time if the system wasnt broken,

 

[TangoNoCash]

I don't understand. The US has a H2A visa program for migrant workers. Why does Trump of all people speak of tolerance for illegals in these positions rather than adjusting the H2A program to allow enough legal migrants to be in the country?

It’s Trump. Trying to understand is an exercise in frustration. I have I hunch that would go much better if you have syphilises brain.

 

[j brown's body]

oh they are in meatpacking and construction, and roofing and hospitality. But none of those occupations are supply chain critical like crops

Be prepared to swing your opinion back to opposing them. Trump has you on a swivel.

Despite Trump’s claim, no policy change underway for migrant farmworkers​

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/06/13/trump-immigrant-farm-workers-hospitality/