Thompson bill opens temporary status path for undocumented farm workers with U.S. farm experience

House Agriculture Chair G.T. Thompson proposed the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act of 2026, expanding the H-2A guest-worker program and allowing some undocumented workers who have already worked in U.S. agriculture to apply for temporary legal status, with waivers for certain immigration violations if they meet visa requirements. The plan aims to address farmworker shortages and aligns with dairy and other labor-intensive sectors, but is expected to draw opposition from immigration hawks and labor unions.