House Approves Pathway to Citizenship for Undocumented Farmworkers

This new bill was passed in the context of a labor crisis in the agricultural sector. Farms have long been reliant on cheap migrant labor to care for and harvest their crops, but the Trump Administration’s efforts to crack down on immigration has deprived farms of a major source of farmworkers. The effect on the agricultural sector has been dramatic, resulting in many farm owners losing large portions of their crops due to not being able to find enough laborers to harvest them. The House bill seeks to rectify the labor shortage in the agricultural industry while also protecting workers by giving them an opportunity to seek United States citizenship. Simultaneously, it would make it easier to punish farmers who employ undocumented laborers by obligating them to check their workers’ immigration status. The hope is that it will encourage more foreign workers to seek employment on America’s farms, bolstering a section of the economy that has suffered over the past few years. If you are an immigrant seeking permanent residency or citizenship, it’s important that you have skilled legal representation as you go through the application process. The lawyers at Bretz & Coven, LLP are experienced in handling various immigration matters, including naturalizations, asylum applications, visa applications and more. For more information or to schedule a consultation at our New York City or New Jersey law office, call (212) 267-2555.