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The Immigration Landscape
JOHN HOLLAY, SENIOR DIRECTOR, GOVERNMENT RELATIONS UNITED FRESH PRODUCE ASSOCIATION
Perhaps no issue in recent memory has led to a more im- passioned debate in Washington, DC,
than the issue of immigration reform. While the challenges facing the fresh produce indus- try with regards to a reliable, legal workforce always have been a well-known concern, the politics of immigration reform have never been more front and center for the American public.
First, the issue of legal
status for children who were
brought to the United States by
their parents many years ago
(the “Dreamers”) was the focus
of national attention. Now, new
childhood arrivals today have
captivated headlines across
the country. News footage of
children being separated from
their families and the uncertainty they face with regards to reunification have reframed the debate in Congress over immigration reform and the public’s urgency to enact reform. Paired with an administration with an enforcement-first policy that includes a border wall with Mexico and increased enforcement at home, the politics of immi- gration are extremely contentious.
Here at United Fresh Produce Associa- tion, the need for immigration reform has always been a top priority. United Fresh was a founder of the Agriculture Workforce Coali- tion – a group of like-minded agriculture organizations that banded together more than five years ago to support a congres- sional fix to our immigration system. This is no small task, given that the last major
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On the Congressional front, we’re still battling to drive legislation that could provide legal status for our current workforce.
immigration reform law passed 32 years ago.
With a continuing stalemate in Congress, United Fresh and our partners are working a two-pronged strategy – first to drive regu- latory reforms to the current H2A guest
worker program, offering improvements that don’t require Congressional action but can provide relief to our members in the interim.
On the Congressional front, we’re still battling to drive legislation that could provide legal status for our current workforce. Last year, House Judiciary Chairman Bob Good- latte (R-VA) introduced legis- lation known as the AG Act, which was a good attempt to create a new improved guest worker program. However, because of strong political pressure from certain factions of the House Republican Caucus, the legislation also included a mandatory e-verify requirement that threatens to drive our current workers even more underground and into the
shadows.
Our champions in Congress have worked
to try to improve the bill, but we’re just not there yet. Their efforts are to be commended in the face of strong opposition. We’ll stay at the negotiating table as long as hope for a real immigration solution is possible. But we can’t accept legislation that threatens the more than 1 million workers we depend on today.
United Fresh will continue to push for regulatory reform within the administration, and for legislative action in the Congress. A real solution requires compromise, working with members of Congress in both houses, and on both sides of the aisle, to properly address the immigration challenges our industry faces.