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| Image generated for AFOP by ChatGPT. (No, Daniel’s desk is not this messy!) |
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| From the Desk of the Executive DirectorDaniel Sheehan, Executive Director
May 8, 2026 |
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| The astute reader will recall that last summer the majority party in Congress, at the urging of the president, approved legislation strictly along party lines that, among many things, extended tax cuts favoring the wealthy and directed unprecedented funding toward immigration enforcement. Financed primarily through deep cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the measure allocated $75 billion to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to expand detention, hiring, and deportation operations, making ICE the highest-funded federal law enforcement agency in U.S. history. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) also received a $65 billion increase, including $46.5 billion for border wall construction and an additional $10 billion for a so-called Department of Homeland Security (DHS) border security “slush fund.”
After some senators earlier this year refused to approve a new year of funding for ICE absent significant enforcement reforms, the majority party ended the DHS shutdown by passing an appropriations bill that funded most of DHS—including FEMA, TSA, and the Coast Guard—but excluded ICE and CBP immigration enforcement operations. Those agencies continue to operate primarily with the massive supplemental funding provided in last year’s act.
Leaders were able to do this by assuring restive conservative hardliners that, if members voted yes, they would have an opportunity this spring to advance another majority-only, filibuster-proof bill providing additional immigration enforcement funding. That process is now moving forward. As currently conceived, the new bill would provide:
$38.2 billion for ICE. This would reportedly quadruple ICE’s capacity through 2029, allowing the agency to significantly expand its activities for the remainder of the president’s term—without the risk of Congress withholding future funding. $26 billion for CBP. This funding is expected to sustain the agency through next year. $5 billion for DHS. This money in addition to the funding Congress has already approved. $1.5 billion for the Department of Justice. $1 billion for the Secret Service for the “East Wing Modernization Project” (the ballroom we were all assured would not be financed with taxpayer dollars).
We raise these concerns because, in addition to this ICE-CBP spending measure, certain conservative elected officials are insisting that Congress advance a third party-line, no-filibuster bill to impose sweeping cuts to non-defense discretionary spending, including programs like the National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP). While some observers believe the prospects for Congress approving a third measure—known as a reconciliation bill—are remote, we, as advocates for our vitally important farmworker job-training program, must remain vigilant and outspoken in opposing any language that could subject NFJP to unwarranted future cuts. You can rest assured that your team in Washington, D.C. is doing exactly that and will continue fighting to secure the full funding that you, the program, and, most importantly, farmworkers deserve.
[Read more on this developing story under “Hill Happenings”.] |
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| “Mother of the Fields”: AFOP Celebrates Farmworker Moms on Mother’s DayAFOP May 10, 2026
AFOP celebrated moms everywhere – and especially farmworker moms – by posting the following tribute on social media last weekend: |
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| Before the rooster thinks to sing, before the dawn has found its light, before the morning sky turns gold, she rises softly from the night.
Then to the fields her tired feet go, beneath the harsh and burning sun, where ten long hours — sometimes more of bending, lifting must be done.
With aching back and blistered hands, through dust and heat she makes her way harvesting the food that fills so many homes each single day. |
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| But when at last her work is done, her day is far from over then — she comes back home to cook and clean, and tend to children once again.
This is the mother of the fields — a woman strong, unseen, and true, who gives her labor, love, and life in everything she says and does.
This Mother’s Day, we honor her, for all the world is blessed because behind each meal, each child, each home, there stands a mother just like us. |
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| -Poem written by Melanie Forti, AFOP Health & Safety Programs Director |
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| AFOP Opens its 17th Annual Children in the Fields Art & Essay ContestApril 1, 2026 |
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| AFOP has announced its 17th annual art and essay contest for farmworker children, with the theme, “From Farmwork to Powerful Futures: The challenges children face today can become meaningful dreams of tomorrow.” En español: Del Trabajo Agrícola a Poderosos Furturos: Los desafíos que enfrentan los niños hoy pueden convertirse en sueños significativos del mañana.”
AFOP invites migrant and season children between the ages of 10-18 years old to submit an original piece of art or an essay - or both! - that clearly expresses this theme.
12 winners of the contest will receive a $100-$300 prize. The contest closes on July 31, 2026. |
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| AFOP Signs Letter Supporting a Strong FY 2027 Labor–HHS–Education AllocationMay 13, 2026 |
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| AFOP joined hundreds of national, state, and local organizations in urging Congress to strengthen funding for Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education programs in Fiscal Year (FY) 2027. The letter emphasizes how essential these investments are to helping families and communities thrive, describing in detail the far-reaching effects that years of underfunding and inflation have had on critical services.
AFOP and fellow signers are calling on Congress to ensure that appropriated funds are fully distributed and that agencies have the staffing needed to effectively administer programs. |
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| Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) Co-Hosts Successful Combined Regional ConferenceAFOP April 24, 2026 |
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| Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) co-hosted a successful regional conference in Fort Worth, Texas, from April 20–23, 2026, bringing together several regional farmworker advocacy associations, including Rocky Mountain HI (RMHI), Western Alliance of Farmworker Advocates (WAFA), and Delta Association for Rural Initiatives (DARI).
Centered around the theme “Boots, Roots, & Opportunities,” the conference featured a robust agenda of sessions designed to strengthen workforce development and advocacy efforts. Topics included “Labor Law and Agricultural Workers,” “Preparing for a Federal Review,” and “NFJP Storytelling for Outreach and Impact.”
Attendees expressed appreciation not only for the professional development opportunities, but also for the chance to connect and collaborate with colleagues from across the country. Norma Chavez of California Human Development shared, “It was an incredibly valuable experience that will support my professional growth. I gained many skills that I am excited to bring back to [my] office.” |
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| | AFOP Member BHSSC featured on AgWeek.comBlack Hills Spring 2026 |
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AgWeek recently featured the Black Hills NFJP Program on its website, highlighting how the National Farmworker Jobs Program is helping address the shortage of skilled agricultural workers. |
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| In the video, Gloria Miller, NFJP Manager, shared that the program’s goal is to equip participants with the skills and training they need to succeed in the workforce.
The feature also highlighted Black Hills NFJP graduate Chloe Swanson-Hartman, who received support through the program while earning her welding degree. She described the program as “a safety net,” adding, “You feel like you have a family looking out for you.” |
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| NFJP Participant Gets a New Start in LifeCenter for Employment Training (CET) Spring 2026 |
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| “I want to briefly tell you what my life was like before receiving training at CET,” says Cynthia, NFJP participant at CET.
After spending a couple of years studying English as a Second Language, Cynthia found it difficult to make progress. Working long hours left her with little time to study, and her limited English proficiency made it hard to imagine a future in a professional field. “For many years, I felt insecure and doubted myself,” she recalls. “I felt demotivated, with many dreams, but at the same time, I felt I could not achieve them.”
Before enrolling at CET, Cynthia spent seven months unemployed after being laid off from a berry farm, where she worked picking berries for $16 an hour. Although the job helped her financially support herself and her two children, she aspired for more.
Everything changed when she decided to enroll in CET’s Business Office Administration program at no cost, thanks both the Dislocated Ag Worker and NFJP grants she qualified for.
Cynthia describes her time at CET as “wonderful” and transformative. “This program changed my life,” she says. “I experienced a positive transformation by participating in various classes that were essential for acquiring the knowledge needed to complete the Office Administration course.”
She credits instructors like Mr. Clark and center staff like Ms. Jesusita, along with the supportive environment on campus, for helping her stay motivated. “The environment was excellent and provided me with great motivation to learn new things and develop skills that gave me greater self-confidence.”
After completing her training, Cynthia secured full-time employment as an Assistant Property Manager at a local property management company, earning $28 an hour—a significant increase from her previous wage.
“I feel well prepared to contribute to any team, and I am confident in my abilities,” she says. Today, Cynthia is advancing in a field she once never imagined entering. Her journey reflects not only her new skills, but also her renewed confidence, proving that with the right training and support, long held dreams can become reality.
“Thank you very much for all the help I received at the center and to all the staff,” she says. |
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| | USDOL Announces NFJP Allotments; AFOP Expects NFJP Program Planning TEGL Will Soon FollowAFOP May 8, 2026 |
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| On Friday, May 8, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) announced the Program Year (PY) 2026 allocations for National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) grantees in the Federal Register (FRN).
One small change: according to the notice, the Employment & Training Administration (ETA) has used its authority to set aside more funds for program integrity this year, resulting in a .73 percent “haircut” across all programs. This difference will necessitate minor adjustments in PY26 for all NFJP grantees.
Now that USDOL has announced the allotments, NFJP grantees should start assembling their PY2026 program plans and budgets in preparation for the release of the PY2026 program planning TEGL. AFOP expects that guidance to come out sometime in late May. |
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| USDOL Releases New Co-Enrollment GuideAFOP May 12, 2026 |
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| On April 2, 2026, USDOL released a new technical assistance guide for all ETA grantees reporting into WIPS, to enable more accurate reporting on participants who are co-enrolled.
Here are AFOP’s top three takeaways from the guide: No more co-enrollment between multiple NFJP CST grantees. If this applies to any NFJP participants, one of the grantees must exit the participant by June 30, 2026, ensuring no disruption of services to the participant.
Cost-sharing is still allowed. Leveraging and braiding funds remains an allowable strategy to improve services to individuals. However, those services must not be duplicative, and grantees must follow the cost principles of allowability and reasonableness as outlined at 2 CFR 200.403.
Participant transfers between NFJP CST grantees are allowed under limited circumstances - for ex., a participant is moving to a new area, or the grant is changing hands. In these scenarios, however, only the receiving grantee would get credit for the transferring participant’s performance outcomes.
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| | USDOL NFJP Team Adds GPMS Training Videos to WorkforceGPSAFOP May 13, 2026 |
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| The NFJP team has uploaded new GPMS training videos to the “NFJP Grant Reporting” page on WorkforceGPS. This page provides all the resources necessary for quarterly performance and program reporting, including links to the current 9130 and QNR forms, the performance reporting reference guide, and more.
The NFJP-GPMS training videos cover a number of topics: |
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| Budget Chair Jodey Arrington (left) and Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (right) are among the Republicans dreaming up new reconciliation plans. | Francis Chung/POLITICO |
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| Politico Newspaper: Republican Budget Chair Plans to Go Big on Defense in Reconciliation 3.0Politico May 8, 2026 |
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| At least $100 billion for the military — House Budget Chair Jodey Arrington says 12 figures' worth of military funding will be “the centerpiece” of a third reconciliation package Republicans aim to clear in the coming months after wrapping up their package focused on immigration enforcement funding. “I suspect it's around $100 billion for just the replenishment piece,” the Texas Republican told reporters before lawmakers left town last week. “And then I think probably everything north of that is how do we make our military more nimble, more effective, and how do we plan for deterrence and readiness in the future?”
‘The big incentive’ — Arrington said he thinks Republicans’ next shot at reconciliation will be larger than some GOP lawmakers expected. “It will be bigger than I think many anticipated on the front end. But the big incentive to keep the coalition together is funding the troops,” he said. Then to pay for part of that military funding, Republicans will include policy in the party-line package to overhaul safety-net programs, Arrington added. “We need to offset it,” he said. “The anti-fraud measures and savings from those reforms will be a big part of that, but not all of it.” (Ed.: Emphasis added.)
Additional costs — Besides cash for the military, other pieces of a forthcoming reconciliation package might cost money, rather than save it, Arrington acknowledged, mentioning the possibility of housing and health care policy. The fiscal hawk is projecting absolute confidence in final passage: “I'm telling you, we're going to get a third reconciliation. We're going to keep advancing the America First agenda,” he said. “We're going to keep delivering on what the American people sent us here to do.” |
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| | | Congressional Review Act Resolution Against Wage Cuts for Farm WorkersUnited Farm Workers Foundation April 2, 2026 |
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| | In late March, California‘s United States Senator Alex Padilla and Representative Zoe Lofgren both introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution against the Trump administration’s Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) rule that cuts farm worker wages. The CRA (H.J.Res.154/ S.J.Res.152), if enacted, would block the implementation of the unlawful and cruel Department of Labor rule that cuts the wages of farm workers by $3 to $7 dollars, depending on the state. The House CRA is co-sponsored by Reps. Pocan (WI), Norcross (NJ), Espaillat (NY), Jayapal (WA), Raskin (MD), and Omar (MN). |
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While the current Congress is highly unlikely to pass this measure, it places a marker for the next Congress that will sit thus early January. |
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| LULAC's Case Defending Birthright Citizenship is Argued Before the U.S. Supreme CourtLULAC April 2, 2026 |
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| The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) led a broad coalition of civil rights leaders, legal advocates, and community organizations to file suit against President Trump's "Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship" Executive order on January 20, 2025. On April 2, 2026, the Supreme Court of the United States heard oral arguments in the landmark case that could redefine the meaning of citizenship under the 14th Amendment.
At issue before the justices is the constitutionality of an executive order that seeks to limit citizenship for children born in the United States to undocumented immigrants and certain noncitizens. |
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A ruling in favor of the order could affect more than 200,000 children born each year and fundamentally alter a principle embedded in the Constitution since the ratification of the 14th Amendment in 1868.
"What was evident today is that our case is about far more than legal theory. It is about real families, real children, and the future stability of our nation," said Juan Proaño, LULAC Chief Executive Officer. "Stripping or limiting birthright citizenship would introduce uncertainty into the lives of hundreds of thousands of newborns each year and cast doubt on the foundation of America's identity. LULAC stands at the forefront defending the Constitution against efforts to reinterpret it for short-term political gain." |
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| U.S. House of Representatives Introduces WIOA Reauthorization BillAFOP May 13, 2026 |
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| The U.S. House is again considering A Stronger Workforce for America Act (S.W.A.A.), a sweeping reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) aimed at modernizing the nation’s workforce development system. The bill would expand employer-driven training, strengthen apprenticeship and career pathway programs, improve accountability measures, and increase coordination between workforce, education, and economic development systems.
For the National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP), the bill maintains dedicated funding for migrant and seasonal farmworker services and continues support for career training, supportive services, and employment assistance for farmworkers and their dependents. The legislation also reinforces sector-based training and industry partnerships — approaches that align closely with many NFJP programs already helping participants transition into healthcare, transportation, skilled trades, manufacturing, and other in-demand industries.
Importantly, the bill places greater emphasis on measurable employment outcomes, work-based learning opportunities, and employer engagement. These provisions could create new opportunities for NFJP grantees to strengthen partnerships with local employers and workforce boards while expanding access to apprenticeships and credentialing programs for farmworkers. The legislation also highlights supportive services and barriers to employment, which remain critical issues for many NFJP participants, particularly in rural communities.
While H.R. 8210 is still moving through Congress, workforce advocates nationwide are closely watching the bill because it could shape federal workforce policy — including NFJP operations — for years to come. |
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| Mr. Marquardt, right, working with Jonathan Morales, one of his employees, at a site in Happy Valley, Ore., this week. Mr. Marquardt spends much of what would otherwise be downtime recruiting young people to his trade. Credit Amanda Lucier for The New York Times |
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| Blue-Collar Work Has Plateaued, Narrowing Options for Young WorkersNew York Times April 8, 2026 |
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| Parts of the blue-collar labor market occupied primarily by men have been slowing for over a year. Jobs in sectors that include the trades, such as manufacturing and construction, have racked up roughly 150,000 net losses on an annual basis as of March, based on calculations by Joey Politano, an economic analyst. In contrast, health care and social assistance jobs, professions that women typically dominate, generated the most job growth in 2025.
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| Commercial activity has decelerated throughout the country. Immigration has tanked since Mr. Trump returned to office, halting a steady inflow of men willing to do entry-level, blue-collar work at relatively low incomes. And interest rates, which have risen again since the war with Iran, have frozen the housing market — the steadiest source of work for many tradesmen.
“It’s a cyclical sector,” said Marco Zappacosta, the chief executive of Thumbtack, an online marketplace for people looking to hire tradespeople. “When you look further out, past this cycle, you see the trends that are causing people to pay attention here.” |
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| | UPCOMING FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES |
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| HUD Seeks Service-Providing Partners for Homeless GrantsEmployment & Training Reporter May 11, 2026 |
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| The Trump Administration encouraged a wide range of organizations to partner with agencies that seek federal funding to address homelessness, bringing new services to projects such as employment, case management and work supports.
These developments come under the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Continuum of Care program for Fiscal Year 2026. Continuum of Care is a competitive funding opportunity that awards grants to nonprofit organizations and state and local governments that operate networks of services to stabilize homeless individuals and families. The program was first authorized by Congress in 2009, under a reauthorization of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Over the years, it has heavily invested in housing services, and frequently renewed funding for existing projects.
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| Federal agents grip a man's shirt as they detain him after his immigration hearing. | Madison Swart for POLITICO |
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| 10,000 Rulings: The Courts’ Overwhelming Rebuke of Trump’s ICE PoliciesPolitico May 13, 2026 |
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| A new analysis from Politico found that federal judges have overwhelmingly rejected the Trump administration’s expanded mandatory immigration detention policy, issuing more than 10,000 rulings against ICE compared to about 1,200 in support of the policy. Judges across multiple federal courts criticized the administration’s efforts to detain immigrants without bond hearings or opportunities to challenge their detention. |
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| The policy has faced growing legal setbacks in several appellate courts, with judges arguing that federal law does not give the executive branch unlimited authority to hold noncitizens indefinitely without bond.
Critics say the policy has strained the federal court system as thousands of detainees file habeas corpus petitions seeking release. |
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| The administration continues to defend the policy as necessary for immigration enforcement, while legal experts expect the issue could ultimately be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. |
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| UK Passes Tobacco-Free Generation Law that Protects Children from TobaccoAction on Smoking and Health (ASH) April 29, 2026 |
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| After a parliamentary proceeding with strong cross-party support, King Charles III signed the Tobacco and Vapes Bill into law in the United Kingdom.
The UK’s Tobacco-Free Generation (TFG) law is one of many Tobacco Endgame policies. Tobacco Endgame policies are initiatives designed to change/eliminate permanently the structural, political and social dynamics that sustain the commercial tobacco epidemic, in order to end it within a specific time. In practice, Tobacco Endgame policies phase out the sale of commercial tobacco products.
In the US, Tobacco Endgame policies started to pass in 2019 with a tobacco retail license phase out policy in Dolgeville, NY and a complete sales ban in Beverly Hills, CA. Since then, a total of 4 cities in California have passed a tobacco sales ban, 6 cities have passed a tobacco retail license phase out, and 23 cities in Massachusetts have passed a Nicotine-Free Generation policy. The Massachusetts movement is growing every day with more cities recognizing that they don’t want tobacco or nicotine products to be a part of their future.
Globally, the Maldives has passed a Smoke-Free Generation policy, and there are bills pending in France and South Australia for a Tobacco-Free and Nicotine-Free Generation policy, respectively. |
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| | Notable 2026 April Fool’s JokesAFOP April 2, 2026 |
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| | There was quite an array of high-effort April Fools' Day pranks pulled by major brands and organizations this year. IKEA announced a "Meatball Lollipop" and Heinz introducing a matcha-flavored mayonnaise.
In a whimsical nod to America’s upcoming 250th birthday, the U.S. Department of the Interior jokingly announced it was renaming raccoons to "Liberty bandits" and skunks to "Freedom Foggers". |
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