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Ag Groups Mixed on Immigration Plan

Peggy Lowe/Harvest Public Media file photo
Immigrants often work on farms where fruits and vegetables are grown. Dairies also often employ immigrants.

After spending years pushing for immigration reform, the agriculture sector has mixed reviews on changes to the immigration system that President Obama announced Thursday.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says upwards of half a million farm workers facing deportation could be given respite under the president’s plan. Some farm labor groups herald that as a step in the right direction, but others say it doesn’t go nearly far enough. 

“That’s only a Band-Aid," says Kristi Boswell of the American Farm Bureau Federation. “We need a much more permanent work authorization for our current workforce and we also have to have a new flexible guest worker program to fill the shortages we already face.” 

That will take a Congressional fix. Boswell says fruit and vegetable growers and dairy operations face the biggest holes in their labor force, and many depend on immigrants. 
 

As KUNC’s reporter covering the Colorado River Basin, I dig into stories that show how water issues can both unite and divide communities throughout the Western U.S. I produce feature stories for KUNC and a network of public media stations in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, California and Nevada.