Thank you for contacting me regarding immigration reform. I appreciate hearing from you and would like to take this opportunity to respond.

The Department of Labor estimates that more than half of our agricultural work force is not legally authorized to work in the United States. Illegal immigration creates an underclass of workers that is vulnerable to exploitation and poses a potential threat to our national security.

On January 18, 2007, I joined Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) in introducing the Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits, and Security Act of 2007 (AgJOBS, S. 340). This legislation would reform the antiquated H-2A legal guest worker program to make it more efficient and secure. It would also establish penalties for falsifying immigration statements and provides an apparatus for removal of workers who do not meet admissibility requirements. In addition, it would give trained and experienced agricultural workers without proper immigration status a one-time opportunity to pay a fine, undergo a background check, commit to working in agriculture for at least three to five years, and eventually earn the right to apply for a green card.

S. 340 was referred to the United States Committee on the Judiciary where it awaits further consideration. Although I am not a member of this committee, I will be closely monitoring this important issue as the 110th Congress moves forward.

Thank you for sharing your thoughtful comments with me. As the Senate considers this important issue, I will keep your views in mind. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact me. For more information about issues and activities important to Florida, please sign up for my weekly newsletter at http://martinez.senate.gov.

Sincerely,

Mel Martinez
United States Senator