URGENT UPDATE: Idaho farmers are calling for immediate immigration reform, stating that migrant workers are essential to the state’s economy. During a crucial meeting held this afternoon at the Bennion Student Union Building on Idaho State University’s Idaho Falls campus, agriculture leaders underscored the urgent need for legislative action to secure a stable workforce.
Rep. Mike Simpson was scheduled to speak but could not attend due to a House vote concerning the government shutdown. Instead, he delivered a powerful message via a prerecorded video. Simpson emphasized the importance of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which aims to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to facilitate agricultural labor. Although this legislation has passed the House twice in recent years, it remains stalled in the Senate and has yet to be brought to vote after its recent reintroduction.
The proposed act is vital as it seeks to improve the current H-2A visa program, established in 1986, which allows migrants to apply for permanent residency after completing seasonal work. Simpson expressed optimism, stating, “I think we have the best chance that we have had to pass it right now under this administration. It’s one of my top priorities … to get this done.”
Zak Miller, CEO of the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation, highlighted the burdensome costs and regulations associated with the H-2A program, noting that it complicates farmers’ ability to retain workers. “It’s critical to U.S. agriculture … but it’s a bad program, and it’s not serving Idaho well,” he declared during the meeting.
The situation is dire. According to the Idaho Department of Labor, approximately 40% of workers in Idaho are undocumented. Miller pointed to studies indicating that many undocumented workers have lower criminal records than the average U.S. citizen. However, he warned that the current political climate, particularly the Trump administration’s stance on immigration, has created a chilling effect, causing legal migrants to fear deportation and leading to increased absenteeism in the workforce.
With Idaho’s agricultural sector increasingly dependent on migrant labor for its survival, the call for reform has never been more urgent. Farmers are grappling with labor shortages while advocating for policies that will allow them to sustain their operations and support the local economy.
What happens next? All eyes are on Congress as advocates push for a vote on the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. The urgency of this issue cannot be overstated, as the livelihoods of thousands of Idaho farmers, their families, and the broader agricultural community hang in the balance.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
