Changes Coming for H-2A, E-Verify

The Trump administration is working on a proposed rule to streamline the H-2A farmworker visa program while providing new incentives for agribusiness and farmers to use the E-Verify system to check the legal status of employees.USDA and the Departments of Labor, State and Homeland Security are working together on the topic. In a conference call with agricultural groups, officials said the goal was to finalize the changes in time for the 2020 growing season, with USDA the center spot for farms to apply for H-2A workers.The Western Growers Association said they backed changes to the H-2A program, they were concerned about E-Verify becoming part of the plan. "Changes to H-2A should be made to improve the system for the use of all, and any implication that necessary reforms would be limited to those that use E-Verify is concerning," the group said, urging Congress to take action on immigration legislation.In Fiscal Year (FY) 2017, more than 200,000 workers came into the U.S. via the H-2A program.