Agricultural job opportunities bill re-introduced into Congress by California legislators
On Memorial Day, I was driving through Salinas and noticed that the farm workers were out in the fields working. They apparently were not given the holiday off. I could not help but wonder what legal status if any those people have in the United States and wondered if any type of immigration remedy would ever be available for them. It appears that a remedy may be on the horizon. On May 14, 2009, Rep. Berman (Democrat, California) introduced the Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits, and Security Act of 2009 (H.R. 2414) or AgJOBS. A companion bill (S. 1038) was also introduced in the Senate by Senator Feinstein (Democrat, California).
This bill would give "blue card" status to agricultural workers who have worked in the United States during a 24 month period ending on December 31, 2008. In order to receive the status, an applicant would have to show that he or she: 1) worked for 863 hours or 150 work days; or 2) earned at least $7500 from agricultural employment. An individual receiving "blue card" status would be eligible to travel and to work in the United States.
Individuals with "blue card" status would be eligible to adjust to lawful permanent residents (i.e., receive green cards) upon a showing of continued agricultural employment as specified in the Bill. (There are three alternate methods of meeting the continued agricultural employment requirements.) Derivative family members (spouses and children) would also be eligible for the status.
A prior version of this Bill was introduced in 2007 but had failed. This bill is a very legitimate remedy to give status to those who are in the United States already and who are performing work that is much needed in our economy.
