Obama must reconsider opposition to new solution
Recently, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators introduced legislation regarding “undocumented” or “illegal” immigrants, and President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign focused in part on confronting the challenges associated with 11 million “illegals” residing in the U.S. While the motives of those advocating policy restructuring could be questioned, the need for reform is incontrovertible. Of utmost importance to the U.S. is the effect of illegal immigrants on agriculture.
The truth is that a need for workers from other countries exists, especially for the viability of American agriculture. Currently, three of every four farm workers in America are born on foreign soil. Whether resulting from modern stereotypes against manual labor or the ease in procuring welfare, there is a shortage of Americans willing to perform low-skill farm jobs. A late 1990s farm “welfare to work” program in California saw miserable failure: Out of 100,000 potential candidates for farm work, three were placed.
Years ago, the H-2A guest-worker program was developed to help rectify this situation but has since contributed to the problem through its cost burden on farmers, specificities curtailing length of stay and mandates for farm-provided housing. In fact, the current policy is so burdensome that farmers are specifically seeking out illegal immigrants as a way to get around the H-2A program. Recent anti-illegal policies have contributed to a labor shortage that cost the American agriculture industry $9 billion in 2012.
The solution, however, does not necessarily appear to lie in citizenship, or even amnesty. When mass amnesty was enacted in 1986, the need for agricultural workers was exacerbated as the majority of those working in farms moved to work in cities. According to Michael Clemens, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development, citizenship is the least important factor in determining the number of undocumented workers in America. Most important are guest-worker policies — those that allow immigrants to temporarily work.
Smith’s bill, HR-2847, would streamline the bureaucracy, open up unlimited guest-worker visas with freedom of mobility, put the Department of Agriculture in charge of farm worker visas (instead of the Department of Labor), nullify the housing requirement, provide the ability to hire workers year-round (instead of just part-time or seasonally) and reduce litigation risks for farmers. In addition, the new policy would determine the workers’ whereabouts, guaranteeing that workers are not employed in other areas.
Obama, while supporting path to citizenship and amnesty, rejects guest-worker policies. America does not need new, low-income citizens gaining immediate access to government healthcare or welfare. The U.S. needs the capability to remain competitive in agriculture, and guest-worker policies are the first step.