National Agricultural Law Center hosts webinar on agricultural employer readiness for ICE and DHS actions
Jan. 26, 2026
By Ramie Parsons
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts
- Program to help agricultural employers prepare for ICE and DHS enforcement actions
- Webinar addresses employer rights, worksite inspections, raids, workforce preparedness
- Free registration available online
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The National Agricultural Law Center will host an upcoming free webinar, “Guarding the Gates: Ag Employer Readiness for ICE and DHS Actions,” on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, from noon-1 p.m. EST or 11 a.m. to noon CST.
As federal immigration enforcement increases at both the workplace and community level, agricultural operations face unique challenges due to their reliance on seasonal labor and, in some cases, mixed-status workforces.
“Whether managing a small family farm or a large, multi-state operation, agricultural employers must be prepared to respond quickly and lawfully to enforcement activity,” said Misty Wilson Borkowski, partner at Hall Booth Smith, P.C., and a leading practitioner in employment-based immigration for the agricultural industry.
“This webinar is designed to give employers practical tools to protect their workforce, maintain compliance and keep their operations running smoothly,” she said.
Borkowski will explain what U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is legally permitted to do, the differences between administrative inspections and raids, and the rights of employers and workers during each type of encounter.
Participants will learn concrete, operational steps to reduce risk, including strengthening hiring and Form I-9 practices, assessing whether documents satisfy I-9 requirements, establishing internal protocols for unexpected government visits and communicating with workers in a manner that avoids panic or liability. The webinar will also address how to respond if ICE arrives at a field, packing shed, barn or housing site; how to manage the aftermath of an arrest or worksite action; and how to navigate legal options available to foreign workers.
“Misty brings extensive experience advising agricultural employers on workforce immigration issues, and this webinar will draw directly from that practical expertise,” said Harrison Pittman, director of the National Agricultural Law Center.
Borkowski advises farms, producers, labor contractors and ag-related businesses on a wide range of workforce immigration matters, with a particular focus on the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program, U.S. Department of Labor audits, seasonal workforce planning and compliance strategies. She also works with agricultural employers to pursue permanent residency options for foreign workers, including EB-3 employment-based petitions, and assists individuals with family-based immigration and naturalization.
Fluent in Spanish, Borkowski has lived and studied in both Spain and Mexico, bringing valuable cross-cultural experience to her practice. In spring 2023, she served as an adjunct professor of immigration law at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law. She earned her Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Additional information about the webinar, including registration details, is available on the National Agricultural Law Center website.
About the National Agricultural Law Center
Created by Congress in 1987, the National Agricultural Law Center serves as the nation’s leading source of agricultural and food law research and information. The NALC works with producers, agribusinesses, state and federal policymakers, lenders, Congressional staffers, attorneys, land grant universities, students, and many others to provide objective, nonpartisan agricultural and food law research and information to the nation’s agricultural community.
The NALC is a unit of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and works in close partnership with the National Agricultural Library, a subsidiary of the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service. For information about the NALC, visit nationalaglawcenter.org. The NALC is also on X, Facebook and LinkedIn as @nataglaw. Subscribe online to receive NALC Communications, including webinar announcements, the NALC’s Quarterly Newsletter, and The Feed.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land-grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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Media Contact:
Ramie Parsons
National Agricultural Law Center
rparsons@uark.edu
479-575-7646