The U.S. State Department has clarified its ban on noncitizens entering the U.S. from South Africa will not extend to South African farm workers. The Biden administration suspended travel from the country due to COVID-19 concerns.
Agricultural workers trying to enter the U.S. will qualify for the exemption on a case-by-case basis. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Acting Homeland Security Secretary David Pekoske at the end of January, requesting an exemption for South African farm labor.
“Farm workers from South Africa bring valuable and unique skills to the farms on which they are employed,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “America’s farmers rely on the H-2A program to provide a robust workforce and we are committed to ensuring their safety while continuing to provide healthy, affordable food for families across the country.”
