President Trump, Sen. Thune, Sen. Schumer, Rep. Johnson, and Rep. Jeffries:
Recent ICE enforcement actions in Kansas and the immediate impact they had on our nation’s food systems reconfirm a reality our lawmakers must finally face: To ensure we have safe, affordable food produced in the U.S., we must provide work permits to long-term immigrants in agriculture and expand ag workforce programs
Long-term immigrants in agriculture who have worked and paid taxes for years, without committing crimes, should have access to legal work permits. Expanding workforce programs for agriculture is critical to ensuring that farmers can continue feeding our nation.
We are grateful for the leadership of lawmakers like House Agriculture Committee Chair G.T. Thompson (R-PA), who is leading the way on real solutions with his Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act (SAWA).
Rep. Thompson’s bill has been attacked by many of the same voices actively clamoring for immigration enforcement to target law-abiding workers as well as the “worst of the worst.” They believe all immigrants should be removed from agriculture and from our communities. They attack every solution offered that includes providing long-term, vetted immigrant farm workers the ability to work legally.
This is out of touch with economic reality, and given the human implications of such an approach, it is morally wrong.
Long-term immigrants and their families are an integral part of rural communities across America and perform skilled, difficult labor on our farms and ranches. Farmers across the country are struggling to keep their operations going in the face of a systemic workforce shortage. And American consumers are already struggling with food affordability.
Targeting immigrant workers who have not committed crimes and blocking workforce solutions for agriculture, devastates agricultural producers, drives up food costs for all Americans, and makes our nation more dependent on other countries, all while disrupting rural communities and families.
President Trump has rightfully pointed out the need for work permits for long-term immigrants in agriculture. He has secured the border. Now, Congress must act.
Signed by:
- Matt Teagarden, CEO, Kansas Livestock Association; Chair, ABIC Ag Council
- Milk Producers Council, CA
- Kansas Dairy Association
- Chris Herr, President, PennAg Industries Association
- Jake Pierson, President, Pierson Nurseries, Maine
- Bert Lemkes, Manager, Tri-Hishtil, NC
- Jenni Tilton-Flood, Dairy Farmer, Flood Brothers Farm
- Jed Murray, Director of Government Affairs, Texas International Produce Association
- Steve Obert, Executive Director, Indiana Dairy Producers
- Sipho Dumasane, Administrator, Dumanase Consultation LLC, TN
- Amanda Freund, Co-Owner, CowPots, CT
- Cheryl Carson, Partner, Aghaloma Farms, ME
- Robert Foster, President, Vermont Natural Ag Products
- Suzanne Vold, Owner, Dorrich Dairy, MN
- Elizabeth Kennet, Owner, Agrimark Inc., VT
- Hans Breitenmoser Jr., Owner, Golden Dawn Farms, WI
- Peter Schmidt, Member, Schmidt’s Ponderosa LLP, WI
- Oscar Gonzales, Vice Chairman, California Horse Racing Board
- Alex Neuenschwander, Owner, Neu-Hope Dairy, Inc., IN
- Janille Baker, Controller, Baker Ranches Inc, NV
- Jayne Sebright, Director, The Center for Dairy Excellence, PA
- Julie Maurer, Partner, Soaring Eagle Dairy, WI
- Brian Houin, Owner, Homestead Dairy LLC, IN
- David Marvel, Owner, Marvel Farms, DE
- Janet Topp, Partner, T-T Ranch, ND
- Jeff Chandler, Executive Director, Agribusiness Henderson County, NC
- Julie MacGlaflin, Owner, MacGlaflin Farm, NH
- Mary Snyder, H2A Program Coordinator, Snyder Livestock Company, Inc, NV
- Kyler Ohlde, Owner, Ohlde Family Farms, KS
- Douglas Shelmidine, Member, Sheland Farms, NY
- Lynn Fish, Fish’s Farm Market and Greenhouses, NY
- F Brandon Mallory, Owner, Agri-Placement Services, Inc, NY
- Ned Morgan, Owner, Morgan Farms LLC, NY
- Clint Anderson, Operations Manager, AgOasis, KS
- Kathy Davis, Owner and Operator, AFI, OH
- Jill Stahl Tyler, President, Global Cow, VT
- Michele Walter, Business Manager, 3M Pork, LLC, KS
- Karen Baudhuin, Owner, Baudhuin’s Grandview Dairy LLC, WI
- Bob Jones, CEO, The Chef’s Garden Inc., OH
- Brian Gannon, VP, LaborMex
- Darren Mueller, Manager, Prairieland Dairy, NE
- Courtney Banach, Herd Manager, Dairy Farm Laborer, VT
- Jim Boyle, Chairman, Arizona Dairy Producers
- Beverly Idsinga, Executive Director, Dairy Producers of New Mexico