Full Breakdown
Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s H-2A Wage-Cut Rule
8/27/2026, 10:09:41 PM
Core Event
U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff in Fresno ruled that a Labor Department interim final rule lowering wages for H-2A agricultural guest workers is unlawful. The judge held that the Department of Labor failed to consider whether the rule would “adversely affect” wages of U.S. farmworkers. While the rule remains temporarily in effect, Sherriff ordered the agency to promptly develop a new wage-calculation methodology and to notify employers that backpay may be required if revised rates exceed amounts already paid.
Background and Legal Context
The contested rule, issued by the Department of Labor, reduced H-2A wage rates by roughly $3 to $7 per hour. The agency previously estimated that the change would save employers about $2.46 billion each year. Plaintiffs—including more than a dozen farmworkers from several states, the United Farm Workers (UFW), and the UFW Foundation—argued that the lower rates would depress wages for U.S. workers who share contracts with visa-holding laborers.
A prior attempt to implement a similar rule in 2020 was blocked by a lawsuit filed by the UFW and its foundation. In the current case, the plaintiffs also cited a reported decline in California farm wages from $19.97 to $16.90 per hour—a 15 percent drop affecting both H-2A and domestic workers.
Advocate Reactions
Official Statements & Responses
The Department of Labor and the Department of Justice did not comment on whether the administration will appeal. In a March hearing, Labor Department attorney Alexandra McTague Schulte argued that the reduced H-2A rates would not harm U.S. workers because growers already face a labor shortage.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This decision recognizes the important and essential work of the men and women who put food on our tables and that farm workers should get paid fairly,” — Teresa Romero, president of the United Farm Workers
- “We don’t matter to the growers and to this President,” — Crisanto Serrano
- “Farm workers’ jobs are very difficult,” — Crisanto Serrano
- “The UFW Foundation welcomes the federal court’s decision ruling that these callous wage cuts are illegal, ending the transfer of wealth from workers to agricultural corporations, and notifying employers of possible backpay,” — Erica Lomeli Corcoran, chief executive officer of the UFW Foundation
These statements underscore farm-worker groups’ view that the ruling protects essential labor and halts a “transfer of wealth” from workers to agricultural corporations.
Data & Statistics
- Wage reduction range: $3 – $7 per hour (rule description).
- Reported California wage decline: $19.97 -> $16.90 per hour, a 15 % cut.
- Department of Labor’s projected employer savings: $2.46 billion annually.
The judge’s order obligates the Labor Department to issue revised, lawful wage rates and to inform employers of potential backpay obligations covering the period from the ruling until new rates are established.
