President Donald has committed to continue admitting large numbers of H-2A foreign visa workers to take agricultural jobs in comments on the eve of the biggest rise in new jobless claims on record.
During a press briefing on Wednesday, Trump suggested U.S. farms would not survive without a continuous flow of H-2A foreign visa workers who are brought to the country by farmers.
“We want the farmers to be able to get people that have been working those farms for years, or we are not going to have farms,” Trump said. “So they are going to come in. And they are going to be given a certain pass and we are going to check them very, very closely — especially over the next month, because remember after a month or so once this passes, we are not going to have to be, hopefully, worried too much about the virus. But we want them to come in. We are not closing the border so that we cannot get any of those people to come in. They have been there for years and years, and I have given a commitment that they are going to continue to come or we are not going to have any farmers.”
Acting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Chad Wolf said his agency is considering “a number of different options with the H-2A workers” at the direction of Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.
“Nothing to announce here today, but again, at the direction of the President and Vice President, we are looking at a variety of different options that I think we will have soon and be very beneficial,” Wolf said.
The State Department recently announced they are waiving the in-person interview requirements for H-2A applicants that do not present a risk.
Welcome
