Your Immigration
Legal Advocates

DC bureaucracy inhibits employment-based immigration efforts

On Behalf of | Aug 10, 2011 | U.S. Immigration Law |

With endless streams of bureaucracy trickling down from legislators in the District of Columbia, farmers all over the nation are facing difficulties. A recent news report highlights some of the problems farmers are having where employment-based green cards is concerned. According to one news report, the up rise of difficulties lead to an uncommon sit down in Washington, D.C.

Recently, farm owners were afforded the opportunity to meet with top level U.S. Department of Labor representatives, as well as congressional spokespeople. The topic of discussion revolved around only one subject – immigration.

Farm owners pointed out that problems with H-2A visas, E-verify and a dwindling supply of workers (both immigrants and American citizens who are willing to perform the same duties) is making it increasingly difficult to bring crops in on time, in turn costing the farmers money.

Throughout the course of the two-hour meeting, legislators confirmed that H-2A visas can be delayed for a variety of reasons and recognized the fact that United States citizens don’t want to do the work; making the H-2A program a bit of a setback.

It was also brought to light that, in states where the E-verify program has been made mandatory, farmers are finding that crops are left in the fields “to rot” because there are not enough workers available to cover the harvesting. One farmer suggested that, until employment-based immigration is sustainable and easier to deal with, farmers will continue to struggle in filling positions when crops need to be harvested.

Evidence supports the fact that a number of businesses in the United States rely on the immigrant population to thrive. And while a number of undocumented immigrants seek work visas in order to obtain gainful employment, the time it takes to obtain the visas leaves many employers in the lurch.

It seems that employment-based immigration, and immigration on the whole, has become a hot button subject for legislation in the District of Columbia as of late. Given the turmoil surrounding the subject, immigrants who are currently living in the United States may choose to seek the aid of legal advocacy to protect them in the event of bureaucratic difficulty.

Source: The Batavian, “Meeting in DC on farm labor issues may lead to promising results, says participants,” Howard Owens, July 16, 2011

Archives