Senate Immigration Compromise: A Step Forward for Farmworkers

Farmworker Justice Statement Following Senate Passage of Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act

“We’re one step closer to fixing our broken immigration policy and modernizing agricultural labor relations,” the president of Farmworker Justice said today after the Senate approved the compromise immigration reform bill by a vote of 68-32.

“This carefully negotiated bill won broad support in part because it includes tough compromises made by agricultural workers and employers. While the agricultural worker programs are not perfect, they will help improve the lives and working conditions of the men and women working to put food on our tables and will help ensure a productive agricultural sector,” said Bruce Goldstein.

“If enacted, this bill would help stabilize the farm labor workforce and grant eligible undocumented farmworkers the opportunity to earn legal immigration status by proving their recent agricultural work in the United States and continuing to work in agriculture. It would help families remain together and build better lives for farmworker families while affording growers access to skilled and reliable workers.

“The agricultural worker compromise included in the bill has the broad support of major agribusiness groups, farmworker advocates, and now the U.S. Senate. Lawmakers in the House of Representatives should follow the Senate’s lead and take up this bill without delay.”

Farmworker Justice Statement Following Senate Passage of Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act

“We’re one step closer to fixing our broken immigration policy and modernizing agricultural labor relations,” the president of Farmworker Justice said today after the Senate approved the compromise immigration reform bill by a vote of 68-32.

“This carefully negotiated bill won broad support in part because it includes tough compromises made by agricultural workers and employers. While the agricultural worker programs are not perfect, they will help improve the lives and working conditions of the men and women working to put food on our tables and will help ensure a productive agricultural sector,” said Bruce Goldstein.

“If enacted, this bill would help stabilize the farm labor workforce and grant eligible undocumented farmworkers the opportunity to earn legal immigration status by proving their recent agricultural work in the United States and continuing to work in agriculture. It would help families remain together and build better lives for farmworker families while affording growers access to skilled and reliable workers.

“The agricultural worker compromise included in the bill has the broad support of major agribusiness groups, farmworker advocates, and now the U.S. Senate. Lawmakers in the House of Representatives should follow the Senate’s lead and take up this bill without delay.”