Thread: Guestworker changes would be ‘devastating,’ says critic

Guestworker changes would be ‘devastating,’ says critic
Stephen Franklin

CHICAGO — Farmworker advocates and agricultural industry officials were critical of the first rewrite of the guestworker regulations in 20 years. But both cited different reasons.

The Bush administration laid out a series of broad changes Wednesday to the H-2A program that brings foreign farmworkers into the U.S., predicting that such workers will be better protected and farmers will face less red tape.

Farmworker advocates and agricultural industry officials took issue with the 186-page proposal.

Bruce Goldstein, head of Farmworker Justice, an advocacy group, said the changes would be “devastatingâ€

Feinstiens going to start pushing again here soon!! I can not stand that woman.

Feinstiens going to start pushing again here soon!! I can not stand that woman.

Now she's introduced a bill to get the feds to pay states for the cost of incarcerating criminal illegal aliens. First we let them in, then we spend millions arresting them, then we let them go to wherever, then we have to pay again for incurred costs to the states.

Originally Posted by ShockedinCalifornia

Feinstiens going to start pushing again here soon!! I can not stand that woman.

Now she's introduced a bill to get the feds to pay states for the cost of incarcerating criminal illegal aliens. First we let them in, then we spend millions arresting them, then we let them go to wherever, then we have to pay again for incurred costs to the states.

The worst part is it forces people in states who are getting laws passed to stop illegal immigration to pay for sanctuary cities or states that refuse to enforce the immigration laws.

I always like the way they act as if the money is coming from the feds it is not the peoples money

Under the current system, workers are given free housing.

Who pays for the FREE housing--the employer or the tax-payers?

Am sick of these 'inventions' to import even more "WORKERS".

Here's the facts on the H-2A visa....there are NO LIMITS as to how many can be issued....the thing is the employers don't want to comply with rules, about not hiring foreigners over Americans and paying prevailing wages and providing good working conditions. Next time you hear or read that there aren't enough H-2A visas being given out.....call them on their lie...here's the facts Directly from ICE, issued yesterday!




Fact Sheet: H-2A Temporary Agricultural Worker Program

Release Date: February 6, 2008

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010

Employers in the United States have often faced a shortage of available domestic workers who are able, willing and qualified to fill seasonal agricultural jobs. The H-2A program was instituted to meet this need for seasonal and temporary labor, without adding permanent residents to the population.

The H-2A program is authorized by the Immigration and Nationality Act, (INA) sec. 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a), 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a), which permits U.S. employers to bring temporary foreign workers into the United States to perform seasonal agricultural work.

The H-2A program is managed by three federal agencies. The Department of Labor (DOL) issues the H-2 labor certifications and oversees compliance with labor laws; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) adjudicates the H-2 petitions, and the Department of State (DOS) issues the visas to the workers at consulates overseas..

There are no annual limitations on the number of temporary foreign H-2A workers that may be admitted into the United States. However, under the current DOL labor certificationprocess, employers must certify that U.S. workers are not available to perform this work before they may hire a nonimmigrant worker. They must also certify that the wages and working conditions meet regional standards.

Since this is a temporary worker program, H-2A nonimmigrant workers coming to the United States to perform seasonal jobs must leave following a maximum period of stay. Some may apply to extend their stay or change/adjust status.
Background

The Bracero program of 1942-1964 was United States’ first major temporary farm worker program. It permitted Mexicans to take temporary work in the U.S. agriculture industry. While the Bracero program succeeded in expanding the farm labor supply, it resulted in depressed wages in the Southwest and was eventually dissolved. It was replaced in 1964 by the H-2 program, which allowed employers to hire foreign workers for both agricultural and non-agricultural jobs in locations with a shortage of domestic workers. By 1986, this program was found to have similar problems as the Bracero program.

When the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) was enacted, it divided H-2 workers into temporary agricultural workers (H-2A), and temporary non-agricultural workers (H-2B). IRCA also allowed special agricultural workers to legalize their status by proving they worked 90 days in U.S. agriculture between May 1, 1985 and May 1, 1986. Additionally, IRCA allowed additional replenishment agricultural workers to enter the United States as temporary residents between 1990 and 1993 if there was a shortage of farm workers during that time.
Statistics

Fiscal Year 2007

* USCIS received 6,212 H-2A I-129 petitions and approved 6,134 petitions for 78,089 beneficiaries.
* DOS issued 50,791 H-2A visas.

[quote="zeezil"]
Bruce Goldstein, head of Farmworker Justice, an advocacy group, said the changes would be “devastatingâ€

Originally Posted by MyAmerica

Under the current system, workers are given free housing.

Who pays for the FREE housing--the employer or the tax-payers?

Employer pays.