Current Status

July 5, 2007

Senate Kills Immigration Bill

Last Thursday, June 28, the Senate rejected comprehensive immigration reform legislation after failing to invoke cloture - or end debate - by a vote of 46-53. The bill's death came after weeks of negotiating, political maneuvering and intense lobbying. It is likely the immigration reform issue will be shelved until after the 2008 election. A vote in favor of cloture would have closed discussion on the immigration bill and prompted a vote on the overall bill, which could have come as early as last Friday or Saturday.

Officials with Western Growers expressed extreme disappointment and outrage over the failure to move forward with critically needed national immigration reform. The Senate's vote was seen as a blow to the agriculture industry and the entire nation.

"America's immigration system is in disarray and America's farmers are among those who suffer from that most," said Tom Nassif, president and CEO of Western Growers. "The historic failure of leadership by some in the U.S. Senate portends a continuation of the worsening shortage of legal and reliable workers who harvest our food. Unless our legislators summon the courage to confront the realities of our labor needs, America's increasing dependence on foreign countries will worsen. We will not give up the fight to enact responsible comprehensive immigration reform. The stakes for our nation are too high."

June 1, 2007

Bush Speaks Up For Immigration Reform

President Bush urged Congress to unite to approve comprehensive immigration reform legislation. He said he is passionate about the issue and that the legislation before lawmakers is a good bill. He strongly urged lawmakers to put their political motives aside and pass the measure.

"No matter how difficult it may seem for some politically, I strongly believe it’s in this nation’s interest for people here in Washington to show courage and resolve and pass a comprehensive immigration reform.," he said.

President Bush acknowledged that the issue of immigration reform is a sensitive one, but he warned that the system must be fixed.

"The system is broken in my judgment because there are 11 million to 12 million people living in the shadows of a free society," he said. "The system is broken because there are people who are exploiting human beings for material gain."

McCain Frustrated By Immigration Reform Debate
(Source: RadioIowa)

Arizona Senator John McCain said he is "frustrated" by the way the debate is unfolding over the immigration reform package he helped write.

"The president and all of us feel frustrated sometimes by the criticism and the level of the dialogue," said the Republican presidential candidate. "I respect the views of those of those who disagree with us. I don’t question anyone’s patriotism or love of this country and I wish we could lift up the level of discourse and dialogue. It’s not helpful in illuminating and educating the American people when we question one another’s patriotism."

McCain said he will be in the U.S. Senate the week of June 4 when debate begins on that immigration bill. There may be a few adjustments in the compromise, according to McCain. "But I think it has to be pretty well as it is if we’re going to succeed. As with things like this, the coalition’s pretty fragile."

McCain said he is unsure how the issue rests with voters. "Polls show that over 60 percent of the American people approve not only of this approach, but the specifics of it," he said. "But on the other side of the coin we have a very emotional, intense opposition within our party."

May 29, 2007

Immigration Reform Update

Things are heating up on the immigration reform front. On a conference call Friday, May 25, American Nursery & Landscape Association (ANLA) Vice President for Government Relations and Research Craig Regelbrugge, along with Executive Vice President Bob Dolibois, talked about the latest developments.

There’s a new immigration reform bill on the table that, according to Regelbrugge, "Covers the gamut - from measures addressing border security and internal enforcement to the implementation of new obligations for employers to verify who’s working, to temporary worker programs and an opportunity for people who are here on undocumented status to earn a legal status and maybe someday, earn legal permanent residency."

The changes to the current immigration system would create a greater emphasis on the needs of the economy and employment skills. Of all the Bill’s titles, there are a few core ones to focus on for the green industry. Title VI, for example, would allow undocumented workers to come forward and enter into a temporary status called a Z visa, which would last four years and could be renewed. For workers wanting to make a future commitment to agricultural work, there is a subset of that program called a Z-A visa.

"We’re hopeful that the architecture of the bill will provide sufficient incentives for the current experienced and trained farm workforce to choose Z-A over Z, because part of the key here for the growing side of the industry is to try to retain as much of its workforce as it can," said Regelbrugge. One incentive for farm and nursery workers to choose the Z-A program is that it would require fewer upfront fines and fees.

Regelbrugge noted, though, that the Bush Administration is adamant about making sure nobody legalized under these programs can cut in line to get ahead of those who have applied for a visa the legal way.

As for H-2B, there will be a fundamental increase in the base cap up to 100,000 when the new program takes effect. There is also a market-based regulator, which is a provision that allows the program to expand or contract with the changing economy, which could raise the cap to 200,000. It should be noted, however, that this could be subject to some change, Regelbrugge said. Still, ANLA remains optimistic.

For more information, visit www.anla.org

May 24, 2007

(Source: SAF)

Immigration Debate Continues All Week

The Senate continues to debate a comprehensive immigration reform bill called "the Secure Borders Economic Opportunity and Immigration Reform Act of 2007," S. 1348. The legislation, according to SAF, includes most of the AgJOBS provisions and provides:

1. Enhanced border security;
2. Increased enforcement of employer prohibitions in hiring illegal immigrants;
3. A transition to legal status for the 12 million undocumented workers currently in the United States;
4. Provisions for future temporary worker programs to fill jobs where there are insufficient domestic workers.

SAF and other horticultural industry groups support passage of a bipartisan comprehensive bill that directly addresses the broken immigration system. An enforcement-only approach would hurt growers and producers in all parts of the green industry, according to SAF.

The industry urges all of its members to call their Senators now in Washington, D.C., and in their state offices. Leave them messages urging them to pass a comprehensive bill that will provide agriculture with a stable, legal supply of workers. The bill currently is under attack from both parties and its chances of passing are at risk without grassroots participation, SAF reports.

Late Breaking Action Item:
Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) is offering an amendment this morning that would cut the temporary guest worker cap from 400,000 to 200,000 and eliminate the market-based cap. Please ask your Senators to oppose the Bingaman amendment.

May 22, 2007

Immigration Reform: Input Needed

(Source: ANLA)

The U.S. Senate has agreed to take up debate and action on comprehensive immigration reform.

The proposed bill, subject to some amendments, would address:
1) enhanced border security
2) increased enforcement of employer prohibitions in hiring illegal immigrants
3) a transition to legal status of the 12 million illegal aliens currently in the U.S.
4) provisions for future temporary worker programs to fill jobs where there are insufficient U.S. workers By necessity, the proposed bill is long and complex. It is a compromise between political perspectives that seek to limit immigration flows and advocates for increased immigration. This bill cannot totally satisfy both perspectives. Currently there is a significant outcry from groups representing the "purist" approach from both of these perspectives. Surveys confirm that a majority of Americans believe the current system is broken and they support reasonable limits as well as practical accommodations for legal immigration. Right now, this moderate perspective is not being heard and the future of comprehensive immigration reform is at risk.
It is imperative that voices of reason be heard immediately or this rare opportunity to actually find solutions to our broken immigration system will be lost.

Please see the "Take Action" page for details on what you can do.