Supreme Court Case Could Change How Farmworker Protections Are Enforced in Yuma

A case headed to the U.S. Supreme Court could change how labor protections for farmworkers are enforced nationwide, including in Arizona farming communities like Yuma County.

The case involves Sun Valley Orchards, a New Jersey farm accused of violating rules tied to the H-2A guest worker program. The Supreme Court will decide whether labor violation cases should continue to be handled through the U.S. Department of Labor's internal system or move through federal courts instead.

Farmworker advocates say the outcome could have major consequences for workers reporting unsafe conditions in Yuma.

Farmworkers rely on the good faith of their employers as protections, said Jazmin Moreno, a farmworker advocate with Agave Threads.

Moreno said she worries requiring more cases to go through federal courts could slow enforcement and discourage workers from speaking out.

Here comes another barrier for them to have a stable work environment and dignity in their workplace, Moreno said. Farmworkers across the country are continuously exploited and met with unsafe working conditions.

She said farmworkers she has spoken with in Yuma are often afraid to report problems out of fear of deportation or losing housing tied to their jobs.

We know that with the specific visa that H-2A workers are tied to their employer, Moreno said. Violations are rampant because who is going to go against the people who feed you, clothe you and give you a roof?

The Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments later this year, with a ruling anticipated by mid-2027.

This case could reshape how thousands of farmworkers in Yuma County and across Arizona can report labor violations without fear of retaliation or losing their housing.

The U.S. Department of Labor currently handles labor violations through its own internal enforcement system. If the Supreme Court rules that cases must move through federal courts instead, advocates worry enforcement will slow down significantly.

Moreno represents workers who depend on their employers for housing and basic necessities. She said many workers fear speaking up because they risk being deported if they challenge their employer.

The decision could affect how vulnerable workers in agricultural communities throughout Arizona access labor protections and report unsafe working conditions.