By Audrey Jackson
Newsweek’s Billal Rahman reported that, “hard-line Republican lawmakers and conservative groups are criticizing a GOP-backed agricultural labor bill that would allow some undocumented farmworkers to obtain temporary legal status, arguing the measure amounts to amnesty.”
“The proposed legislation has highlighted a split within the Republican Party, with more conservative members wanting a tougher response to both legal and illegal immigration, with those who are more moderate likely wanting to find ways to help a voter base which largely votes Republican: farmers,” Rahman reported.
Fox 17 News’ Sam Landstra reported that, “farmers in Kent County say reform is needed for the federal program that allows them to hire temporary workers, referred to as H-2A, and believe a newly proposed bill could be a step in the right direction.”
“In June, the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act (SAWA) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives,” Landstra reported. “If passed, the bill would allow temporary workers to stay on the job for up to 350 days, thus giving dairy, poultry, livestock and other year-round operations greater access to the H-2A program. The bill would also reduce or cut certain fees related to the program and put limits on the year-to-year fluctuations of wages, protecting farmers from unexpectedly high labor costs.”
Bill Sponsor Rejects Claims that Legislation Could Grant Amnesty
Politico’s Rachel Shin reported that, “U.S. farming and ranching operations often turn to undocumented migrants in the absence of American workers willing to do labor like pick produce and milk cows.
Source : illinois.edu