Last week, members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) joined with more than 90 House Democrats to introduce the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America’s Security and Prosperity (CIR ASAP) Act of 2009, H.R. 4321.
The bill contains enforcement and border security, employment verification and legalization provisions, said Craig Regelbrugge, ANLA’s vice president of government relations and research.
“From an employer perspective it is a mixed bag. On a very positive note Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez, [chair of the CHC Immigration Task Force], included the ANLA-endorsed AgJOBS provisions in his bill,” he said. “AgJOBS would overhaul the H-2A program, and provide an earned legalization program for experienced and essential farm workers. On a more disappointing note, the bill would add more burdens to the H-2B program.”