Why doesn't visa program meet agriculture's needs?

The agriculture industry is one of the key lobbying groups pushing for "comprehensive reform" and opposing limits on the "guest worker" program. Don't H-2A visas already meet the requirements for agriculture? There are no limits on the number of H-2A visas. Isn't this the legal way agriculture should be hiring their foreign labor now? However, it requires they actually prove they couldn't find American labor and it sets conditions for pay and treatment of workers that agriculture doesn't want to meet.
This program seems to fully address two major points of the immigration debate: the claims that they are blocked from bringing in enough labor legally and that they are doing jobs Americans won't do. If the businesses are required to meet the pay and other conditions of the H-2A program for American workers, I believe they would be able to fill a good percentage of the jobs with American workers. Am I interpreting this visa program correctly?

Mendi~~ good point
The H2A visa is given to anyone that can prove that they cannot find an American (US citizen) to do the work. Therefore, that visa has no limit.

It does. (Trust me, I OWN a farm). It's simply that it's cheaper and easier to hire illegals. If illegals weren't available, farmers would do the paperwork and go about things legally. If farmers were prosecuted for hiring illegals, they'd stop doing it and apply for visas. It's simply laziness and greed.

We start enforcing through punitive measures -- hefty fines and for additional infractions, time in prison. Report It

I've wondered that exact thing. And it takes away the "who will pick the vegies" question, doesn't it?

You are absolutely correct, there is no reason for workers to come here illegally, unless of course they don't qualify, have a record, are known perverts, etc. etc.

that doesnt sound right...but I think u have confused me with ur question. which visas are u saying will have no limit? I am not aware of any that have no limitations....and i was under the impression that worker visas require need for proof that they cannot get an American to do the job...for example i know a Brazilian family that got a visa as a chef in a Brazilian restaurant...because and American would not know how to be a Brazilian chef...or at least this is the idea.

You are but it's not being enforced. All the farmer hasd to do is like call the day labor place in his county and ask for. Say 100 people, of course they don't have that many. Now it's documented that he tried to get American day labor that day.
So what does he do he lets the 20 Mexicans he has living in a trailer go to the field and work for nothing. Do you think for one secound that a one of those people are going to tell a soul. That he charged them half what the check was made out for to cash it?

Good point. i have heard hat it takes money to become a citizen and a bunch of money. if true then why and what is the government doing. Some have said up to $30,000. With the visas, you would figure this has been going on for decades and they would have a certain group that comes up each and every year and go all over the country as far as NY to pick Apples. So is it a cost factor involved or like lori stated that on her farm the farmers are just too lazy to do it?

i don't know if lyou saw the story of the Iraqi fellow that was persecuted as a Christian and he ad two brothers came into the US via mexico and with migrant workers. i am glad and I asume it includes every senator on Cap Hill, by Sen. McCain has stated that 'they" now know the American people want the borders secure, wonder if someone should werite Ted also.

If these visas are endless and cost nothing then why wouldn't the farmers folow the law, other than wwhat Lori said. It all smells and I smell money and mulaaaaaaa! The brazilian couple that flew to Mexico city and then paid $3,000 to be taken to border agents, then slept at detention center and were not deported but told to return in a month went right on up to St. Louis and started a new, illegal life. Ain't it great, see they didn't have to wait in line and now are submerged in the brazilian community up there and by the way my friends wife is a former Brazilian and the reason the came up is she was pregnant with their first child and the government would not issue a visa for her mom to come up and help, even contacted the Senators. I told Larry to just have the lady brought in illegally, but no he would not break the law, go figure.

Lori K is right. I like to add that not only have farmers complain the paper works are too complicated, but there is a delay of waiting for the government to approve of such visas. You could pick up illegal immigrants now, but it takes months for the gov to approve of the visa and teh farmers claim their crops may rot because of the delays. Also the other complaints are that the government monitors the H2A visas to make sure the employees were treated farily and get fair wages and the farmer needs to pay for housing. The increase cost using H2A visas is a couple of dollars. It might increase the cost of fruits and vegetables but not the $5 lettuce head people are threatening us with.

I know less of this visa than of those I've dealt more extensively with but, based on what I've read here (& I intend to research more now that you've brought it to my attention), the H-2A is sufficient and would be used if our laws were enforced.

[NOTE: That's why I never say "pro's" or "anti's"; because I believe the proper designations should be "Pro-Enforcement" on the one hand, and "Poor-Little-Me" on the other.]

Having said that - and, yes, I'm the type to say, "if the computer isn't working, don't bother diagnosing it, just reboot the dang thing and, if you loose data, you should've kept a back-up - ...having said that, though, the real solution is always the easiest, most obvious, and most efficacious for the long-term.

In the instant case - replacement of illegal alien labor - the solution is simple: AG-AUTOMATION. Nano-technology has come so far in the past 10 years that every cost/benefit equation from the nineties is completely useless.

Soon, in 'delicate' agriculture, climbing the career ladder will become inevitable -- pickers will be replaced by engineers; -- planters replaced by metallurgists; -- harvest supervisors replaced by hydroponic track-farming logistics-experts; -- HECK!!! In 20 years or less, the Homie Deport will be selling $450 do-it-yourself kits for backyard gardens!

I say all that to say this: YES, the H-2A program would work if used. But given the inherent complications, farmers are "Smokin' in the Boy's Room" and hoping they won't get caught.

Let Ag-Automation reach critical mass and I GUARANTEE you, a majority of ag-ops owners will side with the pro-enforcement camp.


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