Congressman Panetta Calls on State Department to Ensure Agriculture Worker Visas Get Processed to Protect Food Security During COVID-19

SALINAS, CA – Today, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) led a bipartisan group of 42 lawmakers in calling on U.S. Department of State Secretary Mike Pompeo to ensure that H-2A agricultural visas get processed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On March 18, 2020, the Department of State suspended routine nonimmigrant visa processing, including H-2A agricultural visas, due to COVID-19 concerns. Each year, more than 250,000 seasonal farm jobs in the U.S. are filled by H-2A workers. The lawmakers made it clear to Secretary Pompeo that suspending routine nonimmigrant visa processing poses a serious and significant barrier to ensuring our nation's food security in these trying times.

"We are deeply concerned that the suspension of visa processing, including H-2A visas for temporary or seasonal agricultural workers, will have a disastrous effect on U.S. agriculture, further endangering our nation's food supply in this time of national crisis. As such, we urge you to immediately issue public guidance confirming that State will (1) continue processing visas for returning H-2A workers who are eligible for waivers of the in-person visa interview; (2) extend the availability of such waivers for returning H-2A workers who have been interviewed in the previous 2 to 3 years; and (3) allow new H-2A workers who are ineligible for waivers to request a visa interview under the emergency travel exception only during the duration of this crisis," the lawmakers wrote. "We urge the Department of State to act quickly and decisively to ensure that the U.S. agricultural sector can continue to provide a safe and robust domestic food supply during this national emergency by providing clarifying guidance regarding visa processing for H-2A workers."

Full text of the letter here and below:

Dear Secretary Pompeo:

We write to you today regarding the Department of State's decision to suspend routine nonimmigrant visa processing, effective March 18, 2020. We are deeply concerned that the suspension of visa processing, including H-2A visas for temporary or seasonal agricultural workers, will have a disastrous effect on U.S. agriculture, further endangering our nation's food supply in this time of national crisis. As such, we urge you to immediately issue public guidance confirming that State will (1) continue processing visas for returning H-2A workers who are eligible for waivers of the in-person visa interview; (2) extend the availability of such waivers for returning H-2A workers who have been interviewed in the previous 2 to 3 years; and (3) allow new H-2A workers who are ineligible for waivers to request a visa interview under the emergency travel exception only during the duration of this crisis.

A complete suspension on visa processing for H-2A workers will have a devastating impact on the national food supply and a disproportionate effect on the national agriculture economy. In 2017, agriculture, food, and related industries contributed $1.053 trillion to the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP), a 5.4 percent share. In 2018, 22 million full- and part-time jobs were related to the agricultural and food sectors – 11 percent of total U.S. employment. These individuals not only contribute to the national economy but also guarantee our nation's food security.

As local and national leaders work together to mitigate the adverse impacts of the novel coronavirus, they will rely on farmers across the country to continue providing safe, healthy, and abundant food. Suspending routine nonimmigrant visa processing poses a serious and significant barrier to ensuring our nation's food security in these trying times.

On March 16, 2020, the White House released "The President's Coronavirus Guidelines for America," stating "[i]f you work in a critical infrastructure industry … such as healthcare services and pharmaceutical and food supply, you have a special responsibility to maintain your normal work schedule."[1] For many of America's farms, it is simply impossible to maintain a normal work schedule without H-2A workers.

We urge the Department of State to act quickly and decisively to ensure that the U.S. agricultural sector can continue to provide a safe and robust domestic food supply during this national emergency by providing clarifying guidance regarding visa processing for H-2A workers.

Due to the gravity of this issue, I ask that you respond to this letter no later than close of business, March 26, 2020.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.