WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Neal Dunn (Florida-02) released the following statement after voting in support of Florida farmers and a healthy long-term fix to the H-2A agricultural guest worker program.

“Instead of supporting our nation’s farmers with commonsense reform, Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats are pushing mass amnesty to over one million illegal immigrants. Farmers need long-term wage rate relief and accessibility to workers in the H-2A program to compete internationally. This bill fails to meet those needs. If we want the agriculture industry to thrive, Congress must put our farmers ahead of the radical left.”

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021 (H.R. 1603) passed the House 247 to 174. This bill allows illegal farm workers who worked in agriculture for a period of time, as well as their spouses and children, to apply for “Certified Agricultural Worker” (CAW) status. After an additional period of agricultural work, CAW workers may apply for a green card. Additionally, illegal immigrants would be eligible for CAW status even if they illegally re-entered the U.S., committed immigration fraud, voted illegally in a federal or state election, or committed certain other crimes. Once eligible for CAW status, the illegal immigrant is protected from being detained or removed.

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