Sept. 14, 2023 www.investigatemidwest.org Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting
Enforcement problems persist for H-2A worker program
Earlier this week, the Biden administration announced proposed changes to the H-2A visa program, which allows farms to hire foreign labor temporarily. The administration intends for the changes to strengthen workplace protections for farmworkers, who often complain of abuse.
The federal government has dealt with enforcement problems related to the H-2A program for years. Two stories published this week have the details.
First, one of the enforcement capabilities the Biden administration proposed augmenting is the ability to temporarily ban employers. As a government watchdog has said, employers can "reinvent" themselves and hire H-2A workers while technically still banned.
Another issue: Employers are supposed to recruit U.S. residents before requesting H-2A workers, but some farms sidestep that requirement, federal investigations and lawsuits show.
— Sky Chadde, assistant editor/senior reporter
Employers banned from hiring H-2A workers can ‘reinvent’ themselves to hire again
By Ryan Murphy, Investigate Midwest
Many H-2A workers face mistreatment from some employers, and the federal government can temporarily ban, or debar, employers from hiring H-2A workers. But the bans rarely occur and are easy to evade, according to government reports, experts and Investigate Midwest's analysis of H-2A data.
Read more.
Farms need to recruit US residents before hiring foreign farmworkers. Some skip that step, lawsuits allege.
By Ava Mandoli, Investigate Midwest
Farm employers are required to recruit U.S. residents before hiring H-2A workers, who come to the states for seasonal agricultural work. The federal government created the H-2A program to help growers meet labor needs, but sometimes it can result in U.S. citizens being passed over for jobs, the lawsuits and federal investigations show.
Read more.
RELATED: US labor department proposes changes to H-2A program aimed at improving worker protections
100 attend festive Sunset on the Farm in Iowa
The 2023 Sunset on the Farm event on Sunday brought the biggest turnout yet — 100 people — for the annual fundraiser that supports nonprofit journalism.
Iowans were invited to enjoy wood-fired pizza, salad, wine, music, and scenery at Walker Homestead outside Iowa City to support the IowaWatch newsroom of Investigate Midwest.
The 2023 presenting sponsor was The Gazette. Event sponsors include The Iowa Freedom of Information Council, and Alan and Elizabeth Swanson.
For more details and a photo gallery, go here.
