Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have triggered a hot debate among Republicans over visas for foreign tech workers, but little is being said about the fact that critical aspects of America’s food production are increasingly strained by a lack of workers and a foreign visa program that chronically fails to fill the needs of America’s farmers.
Without new legislation from Congress, the H-2A visa system for foreign guest workers in agriculture has been stuck in first gear, and as a result more of our food production has moved to foreign countries.
The need for skilled workers in the technology industry is certainly of national importance, but it makes no sense that the entire foreign visa debate is centered only on that sector of our economy. Securing America’s ability to feed itself must rank as the highest imperative.
As President Donald Trump acts to restore America’s manufacturing dominance and self-sufficiency, especially in critical goods, it should raise alarms that the fresh and nutritious foods central to the Make America Healthy Again agenda are increasingly imported from foreign countries, particularly Mexico.
According to the Department of Agriculture, in 2023 the U.S. imported $32.5 billion more in fruits and vegetables than we exported, a trade deficit increase of more than 600 percent over the last 20 years. More than half is attributable to the increasing amount of fresh produce from Mexico sold in U.S. stores and restaurants.
Many Americans seek careers in technology, and it is undeniable that their path could be complicated by increasing the number of temporary visas issued to foreign workers. But no one in this country raises their kids to become farmworkers. Not even farmworkers! As the existing farmworker population ages into retirement, farmers must increasingly seek foreign workers willing to come on a temporary basis to weed our fields, prune our trees and vines, and harvest our fruits and vegetables.
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Existing farmworkers are equally essential to our national food security. Many came to our country long ago in contravention of immigration laws for the sole purpose of working on our farms. Deportation of those who have committed felony crimes or present a threat to national security is strongly supported by most Americans and certainly by the farmers I represent.
But indiscriminate sweeps that result in the deportation of essential workers in farming who do not present the same public safety threat would, at minimum, be economically counterproductive for a great country seeking to reshore its essential industrial capabilities, starting with food production.
Fire hydrants are great as long as there is plenty of water and water pressure in the system. America has great farms and farmers, but without a strong and reliable supply of workers, our farms can’t produce our food.
Sweeps and deportations of foreign-born farm employees who are simply working on our farms would be like emptying the reservoir that supplies water to the fire hydrants and hoping there won’t be a fire.
If we don’t create a national policy apparatus to enable America’s farmers to secure the workers they need, then we can expect at least two things to happen.
First, we should expect to pay far more for healthy fresh foods as they become scarcer. And secondly, we can expect even more fresh produce grown in Mexico and South America to find its way into our grocery stores.
Most of us would rather our food be grown in America by American farmers and produced abundantly and affordably. That is not the path we are currently on. Maybe it’s time to worry as much about America’s farmers and food supply as we do about Silicon Valley.
Dave Puglia is the president and CEO of Western Growers.
