Yuma, Arizona (AZ Family) — Many Yuma farmworkers cross the border every day to work and help provide much of the country’s leafy vegetables during the winter.
These workers are questioning their job security as President-elect Donald Trump advocates tougher immigration policies.
Rosa Acosta, a farm worker and work permit holder who lives in San Luis, Mexico, said she is looking forward to seeing how things change under the Trump administration.
“The vast majority of workers here on site are undocumented,” Acosta said.
Some people are not U.S. citizens but have work visas. H2-A or TN visacan legally work in the United States
According to United States Department of AgricultureMore than 200,000 H2-A visas are issued each year to foreign seasonal workers who perform essential jobs in agriculture.
As President-elect Trump begins implementing border policies, Arizona Agriculture Commissioner Paul Brierley He said this could have an impact on the agricultural industry.
“The availability of labor, legal labor, is done through the H2-A program, and it always takes political debate to determine limits and quotas,” Brierley said.
He recalls that labor shortages due to the COVID-19 pandemic have affected food production, but labor and water rights have always been the biggest challenges for agriculture.
“It’s been really difficult for people to understand the situation, especially during the pandemic,” Brierley said.
He said Arizona farms rely on workers coming from Mexico on work visas to meet demand.
“So the question is: Is there a framework for legal labor flow? My hope is that perhaps as we crack down on illegal immigration, those legal avenues will open up.” said Brierley.
Rosa’s work visa expires in January and she will need to reapply. She hopes the incoming administration will not impact the visa program.
“I hope they give us a chance so we can continue to work,” she said.
Until then, it’s a waiting game until President Trump takes office and implements his plan.
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