BACKGROUND

The U.S. Senate is currently considering S. 1348, The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007, legislation to reform our nation’s immigration policies. The National Grange policy on immigration includes several key provisions concerning border security, enforcement, government responsibility, employer rights and the agricultural workforce. Some of these provisions, especially those provisions on border security and enforcement, have been included in the current draft of the legislation but other important provisions supported by the National Grange have been left out of the legislation so far. Any comprehensive immigration reform measures should include all major areas of concern addressed by Grange members. The Grange supports federal efforts to increase border security to stem the tide of illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and the potential for foreign terrorist attack.

Grange members should contact their U.S. Senators to inform those Senators about Grange policy on immigration reform measures and request that the final legislation adopted by the Senate include all of the provisions highlighted by the National Grange. We must urge the Senate to move quickly to modify current immigration laws to provide for an orderly, well-regulated flow of immigrants to meet the needs of our country by ensuring access to a stable workforce, to secure our borders, to reduce burdens on employers, especially farmers, to limit the costs to taxpayers of illegal immigration and to assure public safety and economic security for all Americans.

GRANGE POLICY

Immigration, Aliens, and Migrant Workers

1. The National Grange supports the strict enforcement of the immigration laws of the United States and further supports regular review of these laws to be sure they are meeting the needs of the United States. The National Grange recommends our government put immigration policies to open debate with full disclosure to the public of the present and future impact of immigration on local communities across the nation. We support increased efforts by the U.S. government to patrol our borders preventing the illegal entry of aliens into our nation, including the assignment of military forces to assist civilian agencies in enforcing our boarder control policies. We support a prohibition on general amnesty for all illegal aliens of any nationality. We suggest that proof of citizenship and/or legal registered immigration be required for receiving benefits. We also recommend that federal authorities be allowed to detain illegal immigrants and foreigners with expired visas for the duration of their investigation and processing, and be deported if immigration status is determined to be illegal.

2. The National Grange supports continuation of the legal program to bring aliens into the United States on a temporary basis for the harvesting of seasonal crops. We support reform of current foreign guest worker programs to allow for expedited processing of foreign guest workers employed in the agricultural sector as well as reform of the H2A program so that the wage costs to farmers when hiring under the H2A program more closely reflects the prevailing local wage. The National Grange believes that the Department of Labor’s regulations under the Migratory and Seasonal Agricultural Workers Protection Act should be as favorable to agricultural employers as possible. We further support an amendment to the Migratory and Seasonal Agricultural Workers Protection Act recognizing that a crew chief is an independent contractor who is responsible for the general care of his crew when it does not conflict with the requirements that are assigned to the landowners.

3. Agricultural employers should not be responsible for checking the authenticity of migrant and seasonal worker documentation at the time of employment. Employers who unknowingly hire illegal aliens should not be taxed or fined.

4. The National Grange recommend that citizenship for children born to illegal immigrants be withheld until such time as the parents have gone through the proper channels and obtained U.S. citizenship for themselves.

5. The National Grange recommends that current immigration laws be revised to establish a practical and enforceable guest worker visa program. The National Grange also supports the expansion of the H1B visa program for professionals to enter the United States in order to provide services in sectors where there is a documented need.

Action Needed

Please e-mail your U. S. Senator urging them to vote in favor of immigration reform that includes the following provisions:

• Increased efforts by the U. S. government to patrol our borders to prevent the illegal entry of aliens into our nation.
• Strict enforcement of current immigration laws.
• A prohibition on general amnesty for current or future illegal aliens.

• Required proof of citizenship and/or legal residence to obtain government benefits.
• Restrictions on automatic citizenship for children born to illegal immigrants until the parents have obtained U. S. citizenship.
• Increased authority to detain illegal aliens.
• Enactment of practical and enforceable foreign guest worker visa programs.
• Reforms of the H2A visa program so the wage costs to farmers more closely reflect local prevailing wages.
• Expansion of the H1B visa programs for professionals to enter the U. S., especially for work in underserved rural areas.
• Assurances that agricultural employers are not responsible for verification of authenticity of migrant or seasonal worker documentation.
• Protections for employers who unknowingly hire illegal aliens.
• Continuation of specific legal programs to bring temporary guest workers into the U. S. to meet agricultural labor needs.

Please feel free to cut, paste and complete the following sample letter. If you do not know your Senators’ e-mail addresses please click here to find them.

Sample Letter

If you have any questions or comments please contact Legislative Program Assistant Samantha Johnson by e-mail: sjohnson@nationalgrange.org by fax: 202-347-1091 or by phone: 1-888-4GRANGE, ext 109.

Thank you for your grassroots participation in the National Grange Legislative Program.