Thread: Senator makes new immigrant proposal

Senator makes new immigrant proposal
FARM WORKERS: Act would cut chances of remaining in U.S.
By MARC HELLER
TIMES WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT
FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2008
WASHINGTON — Undocumented immigrants employed on farms would be allowed to continue working for five years, but would not be offered a path toward citizenship, under the latest immigration proposal being floated in Congress.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., proposes to cut off those workers' chances of staying in the United States, while buying more time for lawmakers to work out a comprehensive immigration bill, according to descriptions of the measure from Capitol Hill sources.

Because the measure has yet to be formally introduced and the senator is trying not to publicize it yet, sources outlined it on condition of anonymity. But one lobbyist who follows the issue closely said dairy industry groups have agreed to the provisions, and a spokesman for the National Milk Producers Federation did not dispute that.

Any measure that lets undocumented workers stay in the United States faces an uphill fight, given the sensitivity of illegal immigration. The lobbyist said Mrs. Feinstein aims to take away the argument that undocumented immigrants would be given amnesty — a charge that helped sink past immigration reform proposals.

A spokesman for Mrs. Feinstein did not return a call and e-mail message seeking comment.

In addition to letting farm workers remain here for five years, the proposal revises the H-2A visa program for seasonal agricultural workers and provides special treatment for dairy and sheep farms. That is similar to the comprehensive immigration bill that fizzled last year.

The dairy and sheep operations would be allowed to bring in workers for three years at a time, after which the workers would have to re-apply to extend their stays.

Mrs. Feinstein's proposal, tentatively called the Agriculture Emergency Relief Act, replaces a bill called AgJobs, which offered protections to immigrant farm workers and assured farmers they would not lose a critical workforce.

Most New York lawmakers supported AgJobs, even as they opposed the broader immigration reform package that applied to workers in other industries. The political climate now, however, makes AgJobs a nearly impossible proposition.

One exception in the New York congressional delegation has been Rep. Kirsten E. Gillibrand, D-Hudson, who has dubbed as amnesty any proposal that lets undocumented immigrants stay in the United States, even if they pay a fine. There are an estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants in the country, many of them working on farms either full time or seasonally.

In New York, immigrant workers have long been critical to apple growers and onion farms at harvest time. But Hispanic workers are becoming much more established lately on dairy farms, where the jobs are year-round. New York Farm Bureau has highlighted immigration reform as one of its top legislative issues.

A spokesman for the National Milk Producers Federation, Christopher Galen, said the organization is looking at all possible legislative solutions to the immigration issue. Until "there's ink on paper," he said, the NMPF would not comment on the specifics of Mrs. Feinstein's proposal.
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Feinstein: The answer remains NO to your AgJobs-like amnesty scheme! This would amount to effective amnesty for millions.

And can you imagine how many millions more IAs would suddenly call themselves "farm workers" and then trying to tell them after five years they would have to leave (after they have put down roots etc).

WASHINGTON — Undocumented immigrants employed on farms would be allowed to continue working for five years, but would not be offered a path toward citizenship, under the latest immigration proposal being floated in Congress.

Is this woman really THAT stupid?!?!?!

THEY don't care about citizenship!!! NO! NO! and NO!

They want to have a ton of anchor babies which are given citizenship and the right to freeload!

How about this proposal? They can come in on H2A temp visas, MUST be entirely supported by their employers. Leave their families back home. If they hook up with someone else and have any babies while here, those babies will NOT be given citizenship and free bennies!

Legal immigrants enter into 5 years of indentured-like servitute upon entering American, WHY are illegal aliens treated better?!?!?!!?

Undocumented immigrants employed on farms would be allowed to continue working for five years, but would not be offered a path toward citizenship, under the latest immigration proposal being floated in Congress.

Unacceptable! There will be no compromise. If you're here illegally - you go home and apply in the correct way - it's that simple! The era of circumventing the laws and will of the people to benefit business interests is coming to an end (hopefully).

Plain and simple........NO!!!!

The dairy and sheep operations would be allowed to bring in workers for three years at a time, after which the workers would have to re-apply to extend their stays.

Apply to extend their stays. OH my now doesn't that sound temporary? NOT

Originally Posted by jimpasz

In addition to letting farm workers remain here for five years, the proposal revises the H-2A visa program for seasonal agricultural workers and provides special treatment for dairy and sheep farms.

If they are going to improve and streamline the H-2A program, why is there even a need to talk about letting illegals stay for five years? The farmers can get all the labor they need under H-2A, they won't need any illegals to stay.

So why the five year plan? Because before the five years are up they plan to have another bill that will give them green cards, that's why!!! It's amnesty on the installment plan!!

Anybody here now has to leave. period, we must send the message to the rest of the world you will not be rewarded for breaking the law in the United States.

Guest workers should renew their cards every year and told if they leave that job to go into anyother industry or do not renew their card, it is a felony and they will not be allowed back in to this country.

They can travel back and forth to see their family but they can not bring them here for us to support, pay for their childrens school, or health care. This is not the job of American taxpayers.

And they can do none of the above until they keep their word about securing the border....because they can not be trusted.

WASHINGTON — Undocumented immigrants employed on farms would be allowed to continue working for five years, but would not be offered a path toward citizenship, under the latest immigration proposal being floated in Congress.

Leave it to Feinstein to make such a stupid suggestion. THIS WILL LEAD TO CAOS AND EVENTUAL AMNESTY. HOW ON EARTH ARE YOU GOING TO REGULATE SUCH A STUPID PROGRAM?!

NO !!!

INSULTING