House of Representatives Passes Amnesty for 1 Million+ Illegal Immigrant Farmworkers

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Dec 12, 2019

In the midst of tedious impeachment proceedings, the House of Representatives united beyond party lines to mass an amnesty bill for more than a million illegal immigrants Wednesday.

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act passed by 260 votes to 165, recieving 34 votes from Republicans. Three Democrats voted no.

The bill creates a process for illegals to apply for legal residency in the United States on the basis of their employment in the agricultural sector. Individuals who have worked in the industry for six months in the past two years will be able to apply for residency, should the legislation be signed into law.

The bill’s supporters claim it is necessary in order to solve a supposed labor shortage affecting the American agricultural industry and lowering the profit margins of business owners. However, they ignore that many farmers would be able to hire American workers if they were willing to pay better wages.

More than a million illegals would be eligible for residency and eventually a path to citizenship under the law’s rules.

The illegals that are often employed in California’s agricultural industry are willing to work in uncomfortable conditions for wages that are far lower than what Americans would typically be willing to work for. Bureau of Labor statistics reveal that the median hourly wage in the agricultural industry in 2014 was a paltry $10.55, hardly a wage that Americans can afford to live on.

It’s no surprise that entrenched corporate interests are hoping to bend the rules of the American immigration system in order to get more cheap labor. Lobby groups for Big Agriculture closely pushed the bill.

One Republican supporter of the Amnesty legislation even took the opportunity to take a shot at American workers upon its House passage, falsely claiming that Americans simply want to stay at home and play Xbox all day instead of working arduous jobs.

The legislation now goes to the Senate. It’s unclear if it’ll be taken up by Senate Majority Leader, who has a mixed record on opposing amnesty legislation and cheap labor giveaways for big corporations.

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