Ag Groups Urge Biden Administration to Grant Travel Exemptions to South African H-2A Farm Workers

H2A South African Workers 121521

More than 60 agricultural organizations are urging the Biden administration to grant exemptions for H-2A farm workers in the recent travel restrictions placed on South Africa. 

American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and more than 60 other ag groups telling the Biden Administration on Monday the nearly 7,000 South African farm workers should be exempted from restrictions related to the Omicron variant. 

Currently, entry is limited to only those that are fully vaccinated. The groups say workers should be able to travel directly to the U.S. and be vaccinated here with a CDC approved vaccine if they desire.

The groups also say that many of these H-2A workers come with a unique skill set and U.S. operations are counting on their timely arrival to make plans for the upcoming season. 

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