Plain-English summary
Court will decide if DOL can make H‑2A employers pay certain costs for foreign farmworkers
The case asks whether the Department of Labor (DOL) may require U.S. employers using H‑2A agricultural visas to reimburse foreign workers for specific transportation, visa, and recruitment expenses as a condition of hiring them. The Third Circuit’s ruling is under review; the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case.
Why this matters
The decision will affect who bears the cost of bringing temporary farmworkers to the U.S. — employers or the workers themselves — which has direct effects on farm labor economics, worker protections, and how agencies can set conditions on employment-related visas.
Who may feel it
- H‑2A agricultural workers (foreign temporary farmworkers)
- U.S. agricultural employers who use H‑2A workers
- Labor unions and worker-advocacy groups
- Farm industry trade groups and recruiters
- Federal agencies that regulate visas and employment conditions
Key questions