Federal bill proposes path to citizenship for farm workers

California Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren introduced a bill on the house floor in October that would directly affect the Central Coast. It’s called the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. It would grant immigrant farm workers legal status.

If it were to pass, then qualified workers could apply for a five-year visa, specific to farm work. In order to get it, an immigrant needs to have worked at least 180 days over the past two years.

"We came together to craft a bipartisan bill that would finally ensure that farm workers are honored for the work that they do in harvesting the fruits and vegetables that we enjoy,” United Farm Workers Foundation Communications Specialist Leydy Rangel said.

Workers would also have the chance to become lawful permanent residents after meeting certain benchmarks in their time here in U.S. agriculture.