WILLAGRI
Florida farmers are warning the U.S. government of the consequences of Donald Trump’s planned mass deportations, pointing out that the deportation of undocumented workers could devastate U.S. agriculture. Strict immigration laws, such as those in Florida, have already led to higher labor costs and an increase in abandoned crops, causing prices to rise for consumers. H-2A (temporary work visa) visa programs offer a legal but expensive and complex solution, while undocumented migrants face increasing difficulties in finding work. Florida’s new immigration laws require employers to verify the legal status of employees, with significant fines for non-compliance. Labor costs are rising for farmers using H-2A workers, who are paid more than undocumented workers. Undocumented migrants are finding it increasingly difficult to find work, disrupting harvests and their ability to support their families financially. It is estimated that there are about 850,000 illegal agricultural workers in the United States, many of them in Florida. By 2024, 350,000 agricultural workers had obtained H-2A visas in the United States. In Florida, 50% of agricultural workers are undocumented, while in 2023, 52,000 were granted an H-2A visa.
Source : Bloomberg