California Senators introduce bill to protect farm workers from deportation

Two California senators are among several lawmakers who introduced legislation last week to shield farm workers from deportation and help them earn their citizenship.

It is called the “Agricultural Worker Program Act.” It would allow farm workers who have worked in agriculture for at least 100 days each of the past two years to earn lawful “blue card” status.

Farm workers who maintain that status for the next three or five years, depending on the number of hours worked, would then be eligible to earn their green card or legal permanent residency.

California Democratic Senators Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris are proposing this legislation along with Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, Colorado Senator Michael Bennet and Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono.

Agriculture is a $54 billion industry in California and U.C. Davis estimates that up to 70 percent of the state’s farm workers are undocumented.

“Everywhere I travel in California, I hear from farmers, growers and producers from all industries, wine, citrus, fruit and tree nuts, dairy, that there aren’t enough workers,” said Feinstein. “Farm labor is performed almost exclusively by undocumented immigrants–a fact that should surprise no one. By protecting farm workers from deportation, our bill achieves two goals–ensuring that hardworking immigrants don’t live in fear and California’s agriculture industry has the workforce it needs to thrive. Despite their significant contributions to California’s economy and communities, farm workers are now a priority for deportation under this administration’s shameful policies. We simply must protect the families who help put food on our tables.”

“California has the largest agricultural economy in the country, and our farmers rely on the labor of undocumented immigrant workers,” said Harris. These workers contribute to our economy and pay taxes, while performing backbreaking labor in a sector where there are often labor shortages. It’s past time and smart for our economy that we provide them a pathway to citizenship, decent working conditions, and the opportunity to come out of the shadows and more fully contribute to our state and national economy.”