Senate committee OKs ag immigration plan

WASHINGTON, D.C.
March 28, 2006 6:55am

In the latest effort to revise the nation’s laws regulating immigration, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee has approved a measure which could help Central Valley agriculture dependant on migrant workers.

The proposal, part of larger immigration reform legislation, would create a guest worker program for as many as 1.5 million farm workers now in this country illegally.

“The thrust of this proposal is to create a legalized workforce for the agriculture industry,” says Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., author of the proposal. “This is a pilot earned adjustment program. It would sunset after 5 years. It will provide the agriculture industry with a legal workforce and offer agriculture workers a path to citizenship. So I’m hopeful that this proposal will receive broad, bipartisan support.”

As provided by the senator’s office, the following is a summary major points of the bill.

• Pilot program to allow certain undocumented agricultural workers to legalize their immigration status in the United States and to modify the current H2A visa program.

• Undocumented agricultural workers would apply for a “blue card” if they can demonstrate that they have worked in American agriculture for at least 150 work days within the previous two years before Dec. 31, 2005.

• After a “blue card” holder shows that they have worked in American agriculture for an additional 150 work days per year for three years, or 100 work days per year for five years, they will then be eligible for a green card.

• Individuals may participate in employment other than agriculture so long as the worker satisfies the 100 or 150 workdays each year.

• Blue card holders (including spouses and children) will be allowed to travel in and out of the United States.

• Spouses of blue card workers will be eligible to apply for their own work permit and their employment will not be limited to agricultural employment.

The Senate’s legislation, in its current form, is markedly different from much stricter changes approved by the House of Representatives last year. That legislation was opposed by all Central Valley congressmen except for Richard Pombo, R-Tracy.

The Senate proposal faces debate scheduled through next week before coming to a vote.

The Senate bill would also require temporary work visas for new immigrants; increase the Border Patrol by 14,000 additional agents, bringing it to more than 25,000 agents; increase electronic and robotic monitoring of the border with Mexico; and increase the number of visas granted to high-tech workers.

Passage in committee of Ms. Feinstein’s amendment was praised by Western Growers, an Irvine-based an agriculture trade association.

"We are elated that the Senate Judiciary Committee today saw the wisdom in coming up with a bill which could provide agriculture with the means to survive as an industry in the foreseeable future, namely a viable guest worker program," says Tom Nassif, president and CEO of Western Growers.