Daniel Costa

Daniel Costa, an attorney and Director of Immigration Law and Policy Research at the Economic Policy Institute, sheds light on the vital role of immigrant labor in our food system. He shares how immigrants contribute significantly to U.S. workforce growth and the agriculture sector. Costa discusses the exploitative conditions faced by these workers, the lack of penalties for employers hiring undocumented labor, and the need for comprehensive immigration reform. He emphasizes debunking myths about immigrant workers and advocates for stronger protections and pathways to citizenship.

In this discussion, Daniel Costa, a labor and immigration policy expert from the Economic Policy Institute, dives into recent changes to the H-1B visa program. He highlights a new $100,000 application fee and its potential effects on the U.S. tech sector. Costa explains how this could shrink the talent pool and possibly hinder innovation. He also explores the link between H-1B misuse and high unemployment among computer science graduates, advocating for policy reforms like better wage requirements and green-card pathways.

Steve Obert, a fifth-generation dairy farmer and Executive Director of Indiana Dairy Producers, discusses the agricultural labor crisis fueled by reliance on unauthorized workers. Daniel Costa, an expert in immigration law and policy, joins him to explore the significant dependence of U.S. agriculture on undocumented labor, revealing that over 40% of farm hands lack legal status. They examine historical policies, the pressing need for reform, and how wage increases for farm workers could minimally impact grocery prices, all while grappling with complex immigration dynamics.