Last week the Agricultural Worker Program Act was introduced in Congress to allow certain foreign agricultural workers to receive permanent U.S. residency. It is sponsored by California Democrats, Senator Dianne Feinstein and Representative Zoe Lofgren. Minnesota Milk Producers Association Executive Director Lucas Sjostrom says he’d like immigration reform addressed but believes it will take a bi-partisan effort to get this measure approved.
The legislation allows farmworkers who have worked in agriculture for at least 100 days in the past two years to earn blue card status. That way they could work in the U.S. legally. Sjostrom says on the surface that may sound good but piecemeal type legislation isn’t the right approach to immigration reform.
He says Congress should pass a comprehensive immigration measure to help those who need ag laborers.
The Agricultural Worker Program Act has numerous Democrats listed as co-signers in both the House and Senate.
