By Jamie Martin
A new proposal from President Trump aims to help U.S. farmers and businesses address ongoing labor shortages by creating a path for undocumented workers to leave the country temporarily and return legally. This approach is designed to offer certainty for both workers and employers in industries like agriculture and hospitality.
During a Cabinet meeting, Trump stated, “We’re going to work with people so that if they go out in a nice way… we’re going to work with them right from the beginning on trying to get them back in legally.” He also emphasized the importance of supporting farmers and hotels in hiring necessary workers.
Undocumented workers make up about 42% of the U.S. crop farm workforce, according to a USDA Farm Labor Survey. With many of these individuals settled rather than seasonal migrants, the agriculture sector relies heavily on their labor.
To meet legal labor needs, farmers have increasingly turned to the H-2A guest worker program, which filled over 384,000 positions in 2024. However, the temporary nature of this program limits its use for livestock farmers who need year-round help.
Farm groups have long pushed for reform. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which sought to provide a path to legal status for undocumented workers and support year-round hiring, passed in the House but did not move forward in the Senate.
Industry leaders support Trump’s remarks. Chuck Conner, president of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, said, “I would like to commend President Trump for his remarks... that recognize the critical importance of foreign-born farm workers to American agriculture.”
The agricultural community now awaits more details about the proposal and its possible implementation.
Photo Credit: istock-fangxianuo
Categories: National