Senate introduces immigration reform bill

WASHINGTON -- Senate negotiators released a 844-page bill early Wednesday morning that aims to make the most substantive changes to immigration laws in nearly three decades.

The bipartisan Gang of Eight filed the legislation, named the the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013. The bill aims to create a path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrations, overhaul the legal immigration system and beef up border security. 

Click here to read an outline of the bill from the website of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), one of the authors of the bill.

The bill's authors have been working closely on agricultural provisions with representatives from the green industry. An agreement in principle was reached Friday on the agricultural provisions of the Senate immigration reform bill. The agreement was reached by the Agriculture Workforce Coalition (AWC); the United Farm Workers (UFW); and key Senators engaged in the reform process.

The American Nursery & Landscape Association (ANLA) and its partner, OFA – The Association of Horticulture Professionals, supported the agreement, writing in a statement that the framework and objectives of this agreement represent a major step toward ensuring that America’s farmers and ranchers as well as nursery, greenhouse, and Christmas tree growers have access to a legal workforce now and in the future.

“We are deeply appreciative of the leadership efforts of Senators Dianne Feinstein, Marco Rubio, Orrin Hatch, and Michael Bennet for their steadfast help toward fostering the agreement between agricultural employers and farm workers,” said Craig Regelbrugge, ANLA vice president for government relations and research. “We also thank all members of the Senate Gang of Eight for their commitment to modernizing America’s immigration system to better serve our nation’s interests.”

The agricultural framework agreement includes a new, more flexible and market-oriented agricultural worker program. It would also provide an earned residency solution for experienced farm workers who meet several conditions, including fulfilling a future agricultural work requirement.

ANLA and OFA support inclusion of this joint agreement in any final immigration reform package, and are encouraging their members, along with state horticulture industry associations and the industry at large to urge Congress to act.

“The agreement reflects the unique challenges facing many of our member employers, and offers solutions directly addressing those needs,” said Michael V. Geary, CAE, chief executive of both ANLA and OFA. “We look forward to bringing enthusiastic support to immigration reform this year.”