American farmers are bracing for a shortage of seasonal workers following the State Department’s suspension of routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa processing in Mexico, including for temporary migrant laborers, beginning Wednesday.
The delay in visa processing for farmworkers comes just as harvest season begins in Florida. Companies responsible for feeding the country are already expecting fewer available workers to manufacture, deliver and unpack groceries as the coronavirus pandemic intensifies.
The seafood industry, including fisheries and crab-picking in Maryland, whose hiring season starts in April, will also be affected by the U.S. government’s decision.
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The State Department told The Washington Post Wednesday that it is “aware” of the importance of the seasonal foreign worker program to the country’s economy and food security and said it is reviewing all options.
The agency has told industry associations that it intends to continue processing H-2A visas for agricultural workers and H-2B visas for seasonal laborers in the seafood, landscaping and other industries — but that it will modify its procedures “to facilitate the social distancing recommended by health authorities,” according to an email obtained by The Washington Post.
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