After weeks of political wrangling and after more than a generation of inaction, Congress may be on the verge of passing comprehensive immigration reform as the Senate prepares to bring their comprehensive immigration reform bill to the full Senate for debate.
For the past few years, American farmers have been in a labor bind. With strict new immigration bills being passed in several states and with the overall US economy still struggling, many farmers have seen their available labor pools shrinking. With less access to desperately needed farm labor, farmers have seen their overall production drop, lowering their profits in an already tight year.
After months of prodding, the Senate has finally taken up immigration reform, debating a bill that would simplify the immigration process, offer millions of illegal immigrants a path to citizenship, and, more importantly for farmers, reform the federal work visa program.
Politicians on both sides of the aisle have entered the political fray, offering some individuals hope that the bill may finally pass. “Look, I always thought there were land mines along here, and you just got to go through them,” said Sen. John McCain. “It’s not a smooth path.”
Whatever the fate of the Senate bill, it has a rough future in the House, whose leaders have already hinted that they will block the Senate version.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer