Michigan farms brace for workforce audits as immigration scrutiny rises
Michigan farms and companies that employ immigrant workers are scrambling to prepare for closer scrutiny of their workforce as the Trump administration begins to make good on its promises to deport undocumented workers.
Sarah Bileti, senior counsel at Warner Norcross + Judd LLP and chair of the firm’s immigration practice group, has been busy answering a flood of calls from concerned employers who are trying to prepare…
The key theme among her clients who employ immigrants is that they are “concerned and paying attention” to the situation, she said. Bileti is encouraging clients to prepare for closer scrutiny of their workforce by gathering necessary documentation for legal workers and completing I-9 forms for all employees. ..
“I’ve had some conversations with some commodity groups in various parts of the country, and they’re already seeing that some of their workers aren’t showing up to work because of fears that they may be deported,” Ortega said…
“Our farm currently has two long-term H-2A workers held up for visa processing in Colombia …” she said. “Workers are also expressing concerns about what would happen if they are out and forgot to bring their documentation, or if it’s ever lost.” …
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