AgJobs Amnesty Fails to Move Forward

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) conceded defeat in her most recent effort to advance the AgJobs bill, an amnesty (legalization and a path to citizenship) for two to three million illegal alien farm workers. The Orange County Register reported that "The losing streak for those who want to see a broadening of immigration benefits [amnesty] continued today when [Feinstein] decided she could not successfully add the AgJobs bill to the farm bill being debated on the floor this week."

Said Feinstein, "When we took a clear-eyed assessment of the politics of the farm bill and the defeat of the Dream Act and comprehensive immigration reform [the mass amnesty defeated last summer], it became clear that our support could not sustain these competing forces."

Comment: Thus we see further evidence that the will of most Americans is gaining traction in Washington. After defeat of the comprehensive amnesty in June, pro-amnesty forces devised the strategy of trying to pass the bill a portion at a time. The defeat of the Dream Act amnesty and the failure of AgJobs to advance demonstrates that this strategy is failing.

Nevertheless, Feinstein says she will keep trying to push AgJobs. Of all the amnesty proposals, this has about the least justification. It will not ensure adequate stable manpower to harvest crops. As the 1986 agricultural amnesty demonstrated, legalizing farm workers will simply encourage them to leave agriculture for better paying jobs — thus creating a draw for more illegal aliens.

The solution for farm labor problems, according to agricultural expert Philip Martin, a professor at UC, Davis, is higher wages (which will not significantly drive up food prices) and mechanization. Professor Martin outlines these views in his paper published at www.cis.org/articles/2007/back907.html

Democrat Introduces Enforcement Bill

Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC) has introduced legislation entitled the SAVE Act (H.R. 4088), to make immigration law enforcement more effective. The legislation would increase the size of the Border Patrol, add ICE agents for internal enforcement, encourage more local and state participation in immigration law enforcement, and make mandatory the now voluntary system for employers to check the legal status of employees. It also would launch a targeted media campaign to inform illegal aliens of the new laws and inform employers of the penalties against hiring them.

Washington observers say Shuler's bill is significant, being an enforcement measure offered by a Democrat. This increases its chances of support from Democrats who generally withhold support from "enforcement only" bills which are usually offered by Republicans.

Comment: This measure has 84 co-sponsors, 44 Democrats and 40 Republicans.

Take action — Ask your House member to support the SAVE Act (H.R. 4088) today!