NEW: Trump has cracked down on nearly every immigration & visa program — except for temporary farmworkers.

I spent 6 months investigating the shocking mistreatment of these guest workers on American farms, who wanted to come to the U.S. "the right way": https://www.nbcnews.com/specials/h2a-visa-program-for-farmworkers-surging-under-trump-and-labor-violations/index.html">https://www.nbcnews.com/specials/...

The H-2A farmworker visa program has grown exponentially amid Trump& #39;s crackdown on undocumented immigrants, who American farmers had long relied on to harvest crops.

It& #39;s now the single largest work visa program in the U.S. — outpacing even the H1-B program for tech workers.

But as the H-2A program for farmworkers has grown, so have labor abuses—wage theft, horrific housing conditions, even human trafficking.

The federal gov& #39;t is supposed to ensure employers follow the rules. But the Trump admin has continued to cut inspection staff and resources.

The ag industry says most guest workers are treated fairly; they get free housing, transport & above minimum wage.

But the cost & complexity of the program has led more U.S. farmers to outsource hiring workers through contractors—making it easier to turn a blind eye to abuse.

The human cost can be heart-breaking: I spoke to poor workers who borrowed thousands to come legally to the U.S. for a few months of tough manual labor.

When the H-2A workers weren& #39;t paid, they were trapped —some immediately faced violent threats from debt-collectors.