By Scout Nelson
South Dakota agricultural leaders are raising concerns about plans to deport undocumented workers, especially in farm country. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has stated that mass deportations will target undocumented immigrants in all industries, including agriculture, with a focus on creating a fully American workforce.
Rollins has suggested that Medicaid work requirements might be a solution to fill the labor shortage left by deported migrant workers. However, South Dakota farm leaders are skeptical. Doug Sombke, President of the South Dakota Farmers Union, argues that filling agricultural jobs with American workers through Medicaid requirements is simply not feasible. He believes that agricultural work requires specific skills and a steady workforce that may not be met by those needing to meet Medicaid work criteria.
Scott VanderWal, President of the South Dakota Farm Bureau, also supports the idea of Medicaid work requirements but remains uncertain about their ability to replace the migrant labor force. VanderWal points out that farm organizations have been advocating for labor reform for years, but little progress has been made. He estimates that 40% to 45% of the agriculture workforce consists of undocumented workers, a crucial part of the industry's success.
Under current labor laws, agricultural employers are required to ensure that immigrant applicants have legitimate documentation. However, if they are presented with counterfeit documents that appear valid, they must accept them or face potential lawsuits for rejecting legitimate workers.
Photo Credit: istock-fotokostic
Categories: South Dakota, Government & Policy