A new ag labor bill by California Senator Dianne Feinstein and U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren would allow certain foreign agricultural workers to receive permanent U.S. residency.
The California Democrats introduced the bill Thursday.
Under the Agricultural Worker Program Act, farmworkers who have worked in agriculture for at least 100 days in the past two years may earn “blue card” status that allows them to continue to work in the United States legally.
Farmworkers who maintain blue card status for the next three years or five years, depending on hours worked in agriculture, would be eligible to adjust to lawful permanent residence, or a green card.
In a statement, Senator Feinstein said the bill “would ensure that hardworking immigrants don’t live in fear and that California’s agriculture industry has the workforce it needs to succeed.”
The bill has numerous Democrats listed as co-signers in both the House and Senate.
