H-2A Reform Updt Pt 2
From the Ag Information Network, this is today’s Fruit Grower Report. There has been a lot of criticism over some of the tactics used by the Trump Administration to slow down illegal border crossings.
But like it or not, U.S. Representative Dan Newhouse says we’ve gone from 140,000 illegal attempts to enter the country in February 2024 to just 8,000 this February …
NEWHOUSE … “And so, I think that message has been communicated to those people that are considering coming here and realizing that if they make the long journey, which is a very difficult, arduous, dangerous journey to come to the Mexican-U.S. Border from around the world, that there’s no assurance that they’ll get in.”
The Sunnyside Republican says part of the reason is a change in tactics …
NEWHOUSE … “Specifically, the one program that is not being utilized, that the Biden administration did, is the ‘catch and release’ program where people were apprehended at the border but then given a court date to appear at some date into the future and then released into the country. That’s no longer happening.”
Another positive trend, Newhouse says is that more farmers are speaking up …
NEWHOUSE … “The fact that farmers are talking to their members of Congress that the situation is dire and that food costs continue to rise, I think a lot more people are coming around to the realization that we have to do something. So, that all bodes well for making progress.”
With the numbers down, Newhouse thinks labor reform talks might begin taking shape soon.
