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In the News

A different kind of guest worker program

Canada’s program for Mexican guest workers could be part of the U.S. debate on immigration reform.

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Armando Tenorio looks out his door to his patio. Tenorio spends most of the year working on a temporary work permit at a blueberry farm in Canada to support his family. The United States gives out about 50,000 seasonal agricultural visas per year, nearly all of them to Mexican workers. But U.S. farmers, immigrant advocate groups, labor unions and Mexican officials say the current U.S. program is a mess.

Dominic Bracco II / Prime for The Washington Post

Photos of Armando Tenorio's children and the Virgin Mary are seen in his family's living room. The long lapses away from his family members, when he’s working in Canada, cause tremendous strain on them. This year, he will work in Canada for only four months as opposed to eight.

Photos of Armando Tenorio's children and the Virgin Mary are seen in his family's living room. The long lapses away from his family members, when he’s working in Canada, cause tremendous strain on them. This year, he will work in Canada for only four months as opposed to eight.

Dominic Bracco II / Prime for The Washington Post

Jossenia Tenorio sits with her husband, Armando, in their home in Troncoso, Mexico, which they built with his earnings from working in Canada. Canadian government officials partner with their Mexican counterparts to recruit workers, expedite visas, guarantee health and safety standards, and coordinate travel arrangements and pay.

Jossenia Tenorio sits with her husband, Armando, in their home in Troncoso, Mexico, which they built with his earnings from working in Canada. Canadian government officials partner with their Mexican counterparts to recruit workers, expedite visas, guarantee health and safety standards, and coordinate travel arrangements and pay.

Dominic Bracco II / Prime for The Washington Post

Galilea Tenorio plays on a computer bought for her with her father's earnings from Canada.

Galilea Tenorio plays on a computer bought for her with her father's earnings from Canada.

Dominic Bracco II / Prime for The Washington Post

Jossenia Tenorio takes down clothes from the clothes line in the family’s patio garden in Troncoso.

Jossenia Tenorio takes down clothes from the clothes line in the family’s patio garden in Troncoso.

Dominic Bracco II / Prime for The Washington Post

A view of the center of Troncoso. The state of Zacatecas sent 274 temporary workers to Canada in 2012, with most earning hourly wages of at least $10, as much as they would make in a day back home. At the end of the season, all 274 returned home, according to state officials and the migrants themselves.

A view of the center of Troncoso. The state of Zacatecas sent 274 temporary workers to Canada in 2012, with most earning hourly wages of at least $10, as much as they would make in a day back home. At the end of the season, all 274 returned home, according to state officials and the migrants themselves.

Dominic Bracco II / Prime for The Washington Post

Women in the village of Troncoso carry a picture of the Virgin Mary on her feast day.

Women in the village of Troncoso carry a picture of the Virgin Mary on her feast day.

Dominic Bracco II / Prime for The Washington Post

Families search for their names on a public assistance program for the poor in the municipal offices of Troncoso. With employment opportunities low, men often look north for work. According to industry estimates, U.S. farms hire more than 2 million workers each year, at least half of whom are thought to be in the country illegally.

Families search for their names on a public assistance program for the poor in the municipal offices of Troncoso. With employment opportunities low, men often look north for work. According to industry estimates, U.S. farms hire more than 2 million workers each year, at least half of whom are thought to be in the country illegally.

Dominic Bracco II / Prime for The Washington Post

Oscar Reyes walks with his son on his patio outside his home in Troncoso. Reyes earns $10.25 an hour tending grapes and spraying pesticides at a sprawling vineyard in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, working eight months straight, seven days a week.

Oscar Reyes walks with his son on his patio outside his home in Troncoso. Reyes earns $10.25 an hour tending grapes and spraying pesticides at a sprawling vineyard in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, working eight months straight, seven days a week.

Dominic Bracco II / Prime for The Washington Post

Oscar Reyes holds his grandson Jonathon, while his wife, Avigail Leos Garcia, and daughter-in-law Rosalia Rodriguez prepare dinner at their home in Ojo Caliente, Mexico. Canada took in more than 16,000 temporary workers, including Reyes, from Mexico in 2012 as part of a formalized government-to-government agreement between Ottawa and Mexico City. Mexican officials view it as a potential model for an expanded guest worker program in the United States.

Oscar Reyes holds his grandson Jonathon, while his wife, Avigail Leos Garcia, and daughter-in-law Rosalia Rodriguez prepare dinner at their home in Ojo Caliente, Mexico. Canada took in more than 16,000 temporary workers, including Reyes, from Mexico in 2012 as part of a formalized government-to-government agreement between Ottawa and Mexico City. Mexican officials view it as a potential model for an expanded guest worker program in the United States.

Dominic Bracco II / Prime for The Washington Post

Oscar Reyes's son Misael, 6, sits on a couch at his family's home in Ojo Caliente. Reyes spends eight months of the year working on a vineyard in Canada.

Oscar Reyes's son Misael, 6, sits on a couch at his family's home in Ojo Caliente. Reyes spends eight months of the year working on a vineyard in Canada.

Dominic Bracco II / Prime for The Washington Post

Jose Martinez, left, and his co-worker Ismael Reyes rest after a day working on a house in Ojo Caliente. Reyes has crossed into the United States several times. As things along the border became more complicated and the price of getting across grew ever higher, he reached out to what are known as 'gauchos' to assist him in acquiring work in the United States. He said the gauchos took his money and never got back to him.

Jose Martinez, left, and his co-worker Ismael Reyes rest after a day working on a house in Ojo Caliente. Reyes has crossed into the United States several times. As things along the border became more complicated and the price of getting across grew ever higher, he reached out to what are known as "gauchos" to assist him in acquiring work in the United States. He said the gauchos took his money and never got back to him.

Dominic Bracco II / Prime for The Washington Post

Commuters disembark from public transport in Zacatecas, Mexico. High transportation costs from rural communities to the state capital make crossing into the United States to work even more viable as making ends meet becomes difficult.

Commuters disembark from public transport in Zacatecas, Mexico. High transportation costs from rural communities to the state capital make crossing into the United States to work even more viable as making ends meet becomes difficult.

Dominic Bracco II / Prime for The Washington Post

Two workers build a fence at a private home in Ojo Caliente. These men, who have entered the United States illegally to work, will earn in a day in Mexico what they can earn in an hour working abroad.

Two workers build a fence at a private home in Ojo Caliente. These men, who have entered the United States illegally to work, will earn in a day in Mexico what they can earn in an hour working abroad.

Dominic Bracco II / Prime for The Washington Post

Children play in a soccer field outside Zacatecas. Workers from this region have been traveling to the United States to work for more than 120 years.

Children play in a soccer field outside Zacatecas. Workers from this region have been traveling to the United States to work for more than 120 years.

Dominic Bracco II / Prime for The Washington Post

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