Sen. Cramer: Trump Administration issues temporary final rule to change H-2A requirements

 

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statement on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), announcing a temporary final rule to change certain H-2A requirements amid COVID-19:

“This is good work by DHS Acting Secretary Wolf and USDA Secretary Perdue. Today’s temporary rule helps agricultural producers avoid disruptions in employment and protects the nation’s food supply chain without weakening protections for workers. I thank the Trump Administration for listening to our producers who requested these changes and for continuing its efforts to mitigate the impact of COVID-19.”

DHS Acting Secretary Chad Wolf and USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the temporary final rule today.

“This Administration has determined that continued agricultural employment, currently threatened by the COVID-19 pandemic, is vital to maintaining and securing the country’s critical food supply chain,” said Acting Secretary Wolf. “The temporary changes announced by USCIS provide the needed stability during this unprecedented crisis.”

“USDA welcomes these additional flexibilities provided by the Department of Homeland Security today,” said Secretary Perdue. “Providing flexibility for H-2A employers to utilize H-2A workers that are currently in the United States is critically important as we continue to see travel and border restrictions as a result of COVID-19. USDA continues to work with the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Labor and the Department of State to minimize disruption and make sure farmers have access to these critical workers necessary to maintain the integrity in our food supply.”

 More Information via DHS:

Under this temporary final rule, an H-2A petitioner with a valid temporary labor certification who is concerned that workers will be unable to enter the country due to travel restrictions can start employing certain foreign workers who are currently in H-2A status in the United States immediately after United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) receives the H-2A petition, but no earlier than the start date of employment listed on the petition. To take advantage of this time-limited change in regulatory requirements, the H-2A worker seeking to change employers must already be in the United States and in valid H-2A status.

Additionally, USCIS is temporarily amending its regulations to protect the country’s food supply chain by allowing H-2A workers to stay beyond the three-year maximum allowable period of stay in the United States. These temporary changes will encourage and facilitate the continued lawful employment of foreign temporary and seasonal agricultural workers during the COVID-19 national emergency. Agricultural employers should utilize this streamlined process if they are concerned with their ability to bring in the temporary workers who were previously authorized to work for the employer in H-2A classification. At no point is it acceptable for employers to hire illegal aliens.

The temporary final rule is effective immediately upon publication in the Federal Register. If the new petition is approved, the H-2A worker will be able to stay in the United States for a period of time not to exceed the validity period of the Temporary Labor Certification. DHS will issue a new temporary final rule in the Federal Register to amend the termination date of these new procedures in the event DHS determines that circumstances demonstrate a continued need for the temporary changes to the H-2A regulations.

The H-2A nonimmigrant classification applies to alien workers seeking to perform agricultural labor or services of a temporary or seasonal nature in the United States, usually lasting no longer than one year, for which able, willing, and qualified U.S. workers are not available.