No Change in Immigration Law on Horizon despite Migrant Farmworker Shortages

Despite the problems last May’s new immigration law has created for local farmers, Governor Nathan Deal is not looking to charge the law. Farmers across the state say that the law caused shortages in the availability of migrant farmworkers which led to crop losses. Many of those in Georgia’s farming industry rely on temporary workers coming to the U.S. from Mexico and other Hispanic origins to help harvest the various fruit, vegetable and other crops grown here. At the time that the legislation was being signed, leaders of the Georgia Farm Bureau explained the negative effects the bill could have. It seems they were right and the bill apparently deterred migrant workers from coming to work. The Farm Bureau estimates that the bill and its effects were to blame for the approximate $75 million in crop losses. Do you have questions concerning employment based visas or other matters? Speak with a Lawrenceville immigration lawyer as soon as possible to get the answers and solutions you need.

Farmers Rely on Migrant Workers

Farmers that attended the recent Georgia Farm Bureau luncheon were surprised that Governor Deal made no mention of the immigration law and its effects. One attendee, a blackberry and grape grower, said he won’t be expanding his crop this year as he has every previous year because he’s not sure that he’ll be able to get the help he needs to harvest it all. Another attendee, a blueberry grower, said that over half of the migrant farmworkers that usually work at his farm at harvest time never arrived. This resulted in about $20,000 in crop losses. Most farmers feel the new immigration law has too much red tape and is too costly which is scaring away the much relied upon temporary workers.

Lawrenceville Immigration Lawyer for Employment Based Visa Matters

If you have legal issues concerning an employment based visa for yourself or a potential employee, you should get the help of a skilled Lawrenceville immigration attorney immediately. A lawyer with us at the Law Offices of Robert L. Booker has helped employers and employees in Lawrenceville and throughout Gwinnett County get the results they are looking for. We are extremely knowledgeable in this area of law and may be able to help you!

Contact a Lawrenceville immigration attorney with our firm if you need help with an employment based visa or other immigration issue.