Letter to the Editor: Migrant Farmworkers Need Stronger Protections

Most people who assist migrant farmworkers agree with David Winkles of the Farm Bureau that Congress should reform the immigration laws (April 20, “S.C. agriculture needs immigration reform”). But we disagree with the specifics in his op-ed.

The current agricultural guest worker program has worked all too well for growers seeking foreign citizens on H-2A visas. The modest labor protections should be stronger, as should their enforcement, to stop displacement of U.S. workers, undermining of wages and abuses of guest workers.

More importantly, Congress should grant a path to immigration status and citizenship to the many experienced farmworkers who are undocumented immigrants.

Most people who assist migrant farmworkers agree with David Winkles of the Farm Bureau that Congress should reform the immigration laws (April 20, “S.C. agriculture needs immigration reform”). But we disagree with the specifics in his op-ed.

The current agricultural guest worker program has worked all too well for growers seeking foreign citizens on H-2A visas. The modest labor protections should be stronger, as should their enforcement, to stop displacement of U.S. workers, undermining of wages and abuses of guest workers.

More importantly, Congress should grant a path to immigration status and citizenship to the many experienced farmworkers who are undocumented immigrants.