For a lot of migrants and immigrants in the Central Valley, working on a farm is a part of daily life. It’s an incredibly demanding job, and the pay doesn’t always match up. That’s why a recent ruling in the Eastern District of California is so important. If you want to know more about the decision and how it might apply to you, set up a one-on-one consultation with our team at Maison Law Immigration Lawyers.
What Does the Eastern District’s Ruling Mean For Me?
A lot of workers in the agricultural industry in the Central Valley are here under an H-2A visa, which is just another way of saying they’re temporary or seasonal workers. But a key issue with H-2A workers is what they’re paid and how that impacts the wages of U.S. farmworkers. That’s why the Department of Labor changed the rules for how they calculate wages for these workers in 2025.
And that’s also what led to a lawsuit filed by United Farm Workers (UFW) in federal court, where they challenged the rule change and asked the court to make the DOL use a better method of calculating those wages.
In his ruling issued on August 26, 2026, Judge Kirk Sheriff agreed with UFW’s stance, and ordered the DOL to go back and come up with a new way of doing that.
So what does that mean for you if you’re an H-2A farmworker or grower? It’s good news, because it means the way the DOL was calculating your minimum wage—called the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR)—isn’t lawful. As such, once changes are implemented, it could lead to higher pay for you in the future and the possibility of backpay in the meantime.
The other end of that spectrum is for growers and employers, it means higher labor costs and uncertainty once new rule changes come in. One way or the other, though, the case is still ongoing.
What Should I Do If I’m an H-2A Farmworker That’s Been Underpaid in the Central Valley?
As an H-2A worker on a Central Valley farm, you already know how difficult the conditions are. And even with the court’s ruling, it’s still not easy to go through a situation where you’re underpaid. You’re likely afraid to speak up or rock the boat, but the law is on your side when it comes to how you’re paid. So if you feel like something is off, it’s helpful to look through some of your documentation like:
- Pay stubs or payroll records showing what you were paid.
- H-2A paperwork or contracts showing your job and pay rate.
- Timesheets or work records showing the hours you worked and the work you did.
- Bank statements or payment records showing the money you received.
- Texts or emails about your work, schedule, or pay.
- Your own notes or calendar showing where and when you worked.
- Housing records showing whether your employer provided housing or other benefits.
The important thing is to hold on to what you have. Don’t throw away pay stubs, contracts, messages, or other paperwork just because you’re not sure whether it matters. Those records could become important if the new wage methodology results in additional wages being owed to you. With all that said, you don’t have to go through this alone.
Maison Law Immigration Lawyers Can Help You
If you work on a farm in the Central Valley, your day-to-day is already hard enough. So when there’s rule changes that impact the money you make to support your family, it can be pretty demoralizing. That’s why the recent ruling in United Farm Workers v. DOL is so important. It gives you more protection.
Still, it can be hard to know if the ruling applies to you, especially if you worked through the H-2A program or did similar farm work for the same employer. But with our team at Maison Law Immigration Lawyers, you don’t have to wonder. We can help you:
- Understand how the court’s ruling could affect your wages
- Review pay stubs, time records, contracts, and other employment documents
- Determine whether you may have been paid less than the wage required under the applicable rules
- Gather records that could help support a potential claim for additional wages
- Explore your options if you believe you were underpaid
Set up a one-on-one consultation today to get started.
