Immigration
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The movement of an organism from its native area to a nonnative area. [NALT]
From the perspective of the country of arrival, the act of moving into a country other than one’s country of nationality or usual residence, so that the country of destination effectively becomes his or her new country of usual residence. [AGROVOC]
The Florida agricultural industry requires a continuous, economically feasible, and authorized workforce in order to sustain the state's economic growth. Employers today face increased scrutiny of their hiring practices to ensure national immigration policies are upheld. Employers of the agricultural industry and policymakers must work cooperatively when addressing immigration issues in order to maximize profitability for agricultural producers and promote sustainable communities with a viable workforce.
Publications
The H-2A Program and Immigration Reform in the United States
Berdikul Qushim, Zhengfei Guan, and Fritz M. Roka
H-2A Workers in Demand in the Ornamental Horticulture Industry
Xuan Wei, Benjamin L. Campbell, Hayk Khachatryan, and Robin G. Brumfield
The US agricultural industry depends on immigrant farm labor, particularly in the specialty crop sector where tasks like harvesting require a lot of labor. Most US farmworkers are from other countries, and almost half are not authorized to work in the United States. The importance of immigrant labor in meeting the demand for workers in the nursery and floriculture production sector has been further highlighted with this industry's recent growth. This publication offers an overview of the increasing demand for H-2A workers in the ornamental horticulture industry, examines growers' challenges, and explores the underlying factors affecting workers’ participation in the H-2A program. It guides industry stakeholders to monitor changes in immigration policies and labor regulations, including the H-2A program and to adjust labor management practices accordingly. It includes strategies to address labor challenges and remain competitive in the marketplace.