White House to let Iowa farmers take responsibility for migrants to save the harvest
The White House is preparing a mechanism allowing farmers to protect vetted migrant workers from deportation — Trump announced it at a rally in Iowa.
Photo: whitehouse.gov
USA — At a rally in Iowa, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the White House and the Department of Homeland Security are drafting a bill on "farmer sponsorship."
The bill would allow farmers to officially vouch for hardworking migrants with no criminal background who are at risk of deportation, helping them remain in the country.
Iowa is the second-largest agricultural exporter in the U.S., and, according to the president, “there aren't many people willing to bend over crops all day long.”
The procedure will be simple: a written statement from the employer confirming the worker’s reliability will grant the migrant a special status, while the farmer will be held accountable for any violations.
A similar system may later apply to the hospitality and construction industries.
Trump warned that in cases of abuse, “farmers will be held responsible, not the workers.” The final version of the proposal is expected to be presented as part of the patriotic events for the U.S. 250th anniversary.