Federal Judge Rules Trump Administration's Pay Cuts for Migrant Farmworkers Illegal. A federal judge in California ruled Wednesday that the Trump administration's policy lowering wages for H-2A guest farmworkers was unlawful. The judge found the rule, which cut hourly pay by about $7 to $5, violated federal immigration law. The administration had implemented the change last fall without a public comment period, saying it would reduce farmers' labor costs by $24 billion over the next decade. The United Farm Workers union and several U.S. citizen farmworkers sued, arguing the cuts undercut wages for American workers. In his 28-page order, Judge Kirk E. Sherriff ordered the Labor Department to establish new wage rates consistent with the law and to notify employers that they may owe back wages. The Labor Department has not responded to requests for comment. The administration defended the rule in the Federal Register, stating it was needed to address immediate dangers to the food supply caused by its immigration policies. Under the rule, wages fell from $19.97 to $16.45 an hour in California and from $16.08 to $12.27 in Georgia. Unions say the H-2A program ties migrant workers to single employers and makes U.S. farmworkers less attractive to employers. Plaintiff Irene Mendoza of Texas said the lower pay makes it harder to cover her children's education and medical expenses. The judge did not cancel the reduced rates but required the Labor Department to set new wages promptly.