You will learn:

This webinar will equip agricultural employers, farm owners, and industry leaders with practical guidance on how to prepare for- and respond to- immigration enforcement actions that may occur on or near farm property. Due to their reliance on seasonal labor and potential mixed-status workforce, farms are more susceptible to increased workplace and community-level enforcement. We will break down what ICE is legally permitted to do, what distinguishes an administrative inspection from a raid, and what rights employers and workers have during each type of encounter.

Participants will learn concrete, operational steps to reduce risk, including how to strengthen hiring and I-9 practices, assessing whether documents satisfy I-9 requirements, how to establish internal protocols for unexpected government visits, and how to communicate with workers without creating panic or liability. The session will also address what to do if ICE arrives at a field, packing shed, barn, or housing site; how to manage the aftermath of an arrest or worksite action; and how to navigate the legal options available to foreign workers. Whether you manage a small family farm or a large multi-state operation, this webinar will prepare you to protect your workforce, maintain compliance, and keep your operation running smoothly.

You will hear:

Misty Wilson Borkowski, Partner, Hall Booth Smith, P.C.

Misty Wilson Borkowski is a Partner in Hall Booth Smith, P.C.’s Little Rock office and a leading practitioner in employment-based immigration for the agricultural industry. She advises farms, producers, labor contractors, and ag-related businesses on the full range of workforce immigration matters, with a particular focus on the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program, Department of Labor audits, seasonal workforce planning, and compliance strategies that help operations maintain a stable and legal labor force. Misty also advises agricultural employers on strategies to sponsor H-2A foreign seasonal workers for permanent residency, including EB-3 employment-based petitions and related pathways to retain experienced labor on a long-term basis. She also assists individuals with family-based immigration and naturalization.

 Fluent in Spanish, Misty has lived and studied in both Spain and Mexico, gaining valuable cross-cultural and international experience. In Spring 2023, she served as an Adjunct Professor of Immigration Law at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Bowen School of Law. Misty earned her Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

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Slides from presentation