Slate News What Next | Trump’s Attack on Visas
Sep 23, 2025
Max Blau, a ProPublica reporter focused on immigration, shines a light on the H-2A agricultural guest worker program. He highlights the critical role of these visas in American agriculture amid mounting labor shortages and the Trump administration's proposed cuts to oversight. Blau discusses alarming enforcement gaps leading to exploitation and wage theft in the industry, illustrated by a compelling case study. The conversation reveals the precarious balance workers face between legal employment and vulnerability to ICE.
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Visa Policy Sparks Immediate Chaos
- The H-1B fee hike caused immediate panic but mainly affects future hires, not current visa holders.
- The administration's visa changes create broad uncertainty for tech firms and foreign workers alike.
Farm Industry Relies On H-2A Workers
- H-2A visas are vital to U.S. agriculture and fill seasonal labor gaps leaving farms reliant on foreign workers.
- Proposed cuts to Labor Department enforcement risk worsening exploitation as the program expands.
Worker Trafficking Case Exposes Abuse
- Javier Sanchez Mendoza ran a labor contracting scheme that trafficked and sexually abused workers like Sophie.
- Sophie was tricked, confined, assaulted, unpaid, and coerced into a fake marriage during her H-2A placement.
