Family farmers press for meaningful immigration reform
CFBF Labor Advisory Committee chair Luawanna Hallstrom speaks at an immigration-reform rally in Washington, March 15.
A safe, stable domestic food supply is a national security issue for the United States. California family farmers and ranchers support a comprehensive immigration-reform plan that offers a complete solution to the problem of illegal immigration.
Existing guestworker programs don’t provide enough flexibility to keep up with fast-changing California harvests. Crops can ripen quickly and the program that’s now in place isn’t efficient enough. That’s why an immigration program must include a flexible guestworker program.
Enforcement at the border is important, as well. But the jobs offered on this side of the border are a powerful magnet. Some of those jobs are on farms; most are in other businesses such as hotels, restaurants and manufacturing. People will continue to come. It’s much better for them to come legally—both for our national security and our economy.
Read more about the need for meaningful immigration reform:
President Bush speech on immigration reform (March 15, 2006)
Farm Bureau Statements
- News Release: Farm Bureau: Changes to labor program could be part of solution (February 6, 2008)
- News Release: Farm leader: 'We won't give up' on immigration reform (June 28, 2007)
- Ag Alert: Immigration reform--Get involved now (May 23, 2007)
- News Release: Farm leader welcomes progress on immigration reform (May 17, 2007)
News Stories
- Farm Bureau leaders join push for AgJOBS (October 10, 2007)
- Raisin growers hope labor lasts through harvest (September 5, 2007)
- California ag seeks passage of AgJOBS (August 22, 2007)
- H-2A: Is this the future of ag work force? (August 8, 2007)
- 'We won't give up' on immigration reform, leaders say (July 4, 2007)
- Farmers determined despite immigration setback (June 13, 2007 )
- Capital trip confirms ag must speak up on immigration (June 6, 2007)
Other Resources