News

Pork industry seeing improved visa approvals

The president of the Illinois Pork Producers Association says the industry is taking advantage of improved visa approval rates for immigrant labor.

Katie Brown, whose wean-to-finish contract operation is based in Christian County, says the past year has seen a major reversal in TN visa approvals.

“We were at like a 10% approval rate.”  She says, “Over the last year, National Pork Producers Council has worked with our legislators and made sure that they knew that was an issue. We’ve made great strides. I would say that’s probably flip-flopped to 90% approval rate.”

TN visas allow qualified Canadian and Mexican citizens to work in the United States in specific professional roles for three-year terms.  She tells Brownfield…

“It’s a pretty simple process.”  She says, “It is quite expensive, but the return that we’ve seen with bringing those individuals in and the long-term, reliable labor source that we have now, it’s worth every penny.”

Brown says the TN program now offers lawmakers an example of a migrant labor process working as intended as broader immigration reform discussions take place.

AUDIO: Katie Brown – Illinois Pork Producers