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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. government unveiled a strategic plan to streamline the path toward temporary legal status for undocumented farmworkers and improve the H-2A visa program. The proposal, led by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins in coordination with the Departments of Labor and Homeland Security, is intended to recognize the indispensable role of agricultural laborers in the American economy—many of whom lack legal protections despite constituting an estimated 42% of the sector’s workforce.
“This law is about efficiency, fairness, and dignity,” declared Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. “It gives farmers reliable labor and workers the legal protections they deserve.” Last year alone, nearly 300,000 H-2A visas were issued—up significantly from the 258,000 granted in 2021. In 2024, that number reached approximately 385,000 certified positions nationwide.
The H-2A program allows U.S. farmers to legally hire foreign agricultural workers when domestic labor is insufficient. Employers are first required to recruit locally through State Workforce Agencies, advertise job openings, and prove that hiring foreign workers will not negatively affect U.S. wages or working conditions. Once approved, applications for labor certification and visa petitions typically span 60–75 days.
Under the new law, these steps will be digitized and streamlined, with a new mandate requiring agencies to process applications within 15 days. This aims to prevent disruptions to time-sensitive harvests.
Reforms also ensure that workers receive the Adverse Effect Wage Rate, a regionally calculated minimum that averages $17.74 per hour nationwide as of early 2025. Additional provisions include whistleblower protections, guaranteed housing and transportation standards, and medical access during the work contract.
One of the countless laborers behind America’s produce aisles is Luis Vargas, a 59-year-old temporary farmworker who migrated from Guadalajara to Mexicali years ago. For over two decades, Luis has made the grueling daily journey to work the fields of California under the H-2A program.
During harvest season, Luis goes to sleep early only to wake up around 1 a.m. By 2 a.m., he lines up at the border to cross into the U.S., usually getting through by 4 or 5 a.m. He then works long hours under the scorching sun, picking the fruits and vegetables that feed millions—often without the basic benefits most workers take for granted.
Like many of his peers, Luis is known for his strong work ethic and deep commitment. “We do this work to give our children a better future,” he says. “But we do it with sacrifice, under hard conditions.”
California remains the undisputed powerhouse of American agriculture, producing over $55 billion in agricultural output annually, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). The state is home to over 400 different commodities, including more than one-third of the nation’s vegetables and two-thirds of its fruits and nuts. California alone accounts for nearly 13% of the total U.S. agricultural GDP. Its farms feed not only the country but the world—exporting to more than 150 countries globally. The labor force behind this staggering productivity is largely made up of immigrant and temporary workers. In fact, up to 60% of California’s farmworkers are estimated to be undocumented, while H-2A visa holders have quadrupled in the state over the past decade. Without their labor, the production and timely delivery of crops like strawberries, lettuce, almonds, and grapes would collapse—disrupting national supply chains and international trade.
Workers like Luis play an indispensable role in U.S. agriculture. It’s estimated that temporary visa holders help supply over 60% of certain fruit and vegetable harvests across the country, especially for crops that require manual labor and time-sensitive handling.
For American farmers, access to a reliable labor force is not just helpful—it’s critical. In recent years, growers across the country have reported severe shortages, leading to delayed harvests, spoiled crops, and rising food prices. The demand for H-2A workers has quadrupled since 2012, with more than nine of the past thirteen years seeing double-digit increases in visa certifications.
Laura García, director of the National Agricultural Coalition, described the reform as “a win for food security, labor justice, and the economy.” Senator Alex Padilla, who helped champion the bill, noted: “Protecting the rights of those who feed our nation should be a bipartisan priority.”
The legislation also addresses long-standing concerns about exploitation. Investigations in recent years revealed widespread labor violations at agricultural sites across the country. Many temporary workers reported unsafe conditions, wage theft, or unsanitary housing.
By including mechanisms for anonymous abuse reporting, requiring stricter employer oversight, and increasing labor inspections, the new law offers more than just opportunity—it offers protection.
The reform arrives at a time when America’s agricultural backbone—its workers—has never been more visible or more vulnerable. Domestic interest in farm labor continues to decline, while the number of undocumented workers has dropped due to enforcement and fear of deportation. That leaves a gaping hole in a workforce that sustains national and even international food supply chains.
As Luis Vargas and his fellow workers prepare for another long harvest season, there is now a renewed sense of hope. With legal recognition, structured support, and government accountability, they may finally gain the status and security they have long deserved.
“Our work matters,” Luis says quietly. “We feed this country. Now, maybe, people will see us.”
This new law doesn’t just modernize a visa program—it redefines who gets to belong in America’s agricultural future. It affirms that behind every apple, every berry, and every ear of corn, there is a story. And more importantly, a person.