A revision for the Ag and Legal Workforce Act Legislation that’s being considered in Congress would require employers to use the E verify system to check the immigration status of their employees. That’s concerning for several dairy farmers who need the laborers annually. Minnesota Milk Producers Association Executive Director Lucas Sjostrom says he doesn’t think just adding the requirement will help in needed immigration reform.
He says dairy farmers need to have access to workers year round whether it’s a guest worker program or some other method of having those legal workers available.
Sjostrom doesn’t think there’s much of a chance to get an immigration reform bill passed before November’s election but thinks the lame duck Congressional session may be a good opportunity to move the legislation.
The Ag and Legal Workforce Act if passed would replace the H2A visa program with an H2C program that would allow for guest workers to stay in the country.
