We Already Have a Farm Labor Guest Worker Program—A Beautiful H-2a Visa

Cesar Chavez' dream has come true. Have you all heard about the Tempoaray Agricultural Worker Visa? The H-2a. Also, the proposed H-2c would make it even better. The H-2a is the fulfillment of Cesar Chavez' dream for fair pay, housing, keeping families together, and an unlimited number of H-2a visas are available. 

I would like to contribute to the discussion this fact that transforms—in one day—an "illegal immigrant" from an illegal temporary agricultural seasonal worker—into a "documented worker" who receives housing, medical, transportation and renewable legal visas for family, too. We are absolutely incorrect to say "we need a guest worker program"—The fact is that we actually have an amazingly efficient guest worker program, and streamlined by email for farmers when seeking H-2a work visas. The Dept of Labor is extremely busy right now making this visa easier than ever to use. The problem is that many farmers prefer to exploit illegal workers for bigger profits, that is the reason. 

The H-2a visa is a temporary agricultural work visa. It is good for 364 days, and is renewable. Many farmers already use it, and have for decades. I have copious information about prosperous farmers from Montana to Georgia and North Carolina who have all the legal, documented workers they need. They also follow the law. A great comprehensive source of unbiased information is Roy Beck of www.numbersusa.com, with 1.3 million members. Please check out the website for an amazing amount of easily digestible and constantly new information. I would like everybody to start asking the farmers, who cry they suffer a labor shortage, this one question, "why won't you use the H-2a visa?"  

I would also love to hear from a United Farm Workers rep who seem to ignore the real value of the H-2a. This guest worker program is the best tool we have to ensure fair treatment, legality of labor, and enough workers. The system is not broken, but farmers who do not use the H-2a are causing big problems for themselves and forcing their hard-working immigrants to remain illegal.