Latest News

Immigration Reform Legislation Passes Key Test, Heads for Debate on Senate Floor

June 4, 2013

Another key policy focus of NMPF – reforming the nation’s immigration laws to address farm labor needs – was advanced on Capitol Hill in May when the Senate Judiciary Committee approved the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act (S. 744) by a bipartisan vote of 13 to 5. NMPF, together with the organizations that constitute the Agriculture Workforce Coalition, worked through the process to ensure that the nearly 300 amendments that were proposed didn’t negatively affect the measure’s agriculture provisions. All of the amendments backed by legislators opposed to immigration reform were defeated.

The Senate immigration reform bill is expected to be taken up by the full Senate in mid-June, after the Senate leadership agrees to a limited number of amendments. Although expectations are that the Senate will approve the legislation, efforts must continue to ensure a strong showing of support by the entire Senate.

The House Judiciary Committee is working on its own immigration reform measure, but the timing for its consideration is still undetermined.