Democrat state Sen. Anna Caballero in California introduced a residency program to help illegal immigrant farmworkers apply for citizenship on April 3.
The Agricultural Worker Permanent Residency Program would provide both local and federal aid to pave the way for agricultural workers to begin applying for legal permanent residency in California, according to Senate Bill 831.
In her news release, Caballero explained how the pandemic was a learning lesson for how essential farm workers were to the state during the outbreak of COVID-19, and that they deserved to be recognized by the government.
Migrant workers harvesting Italian squash near Indio, Calif., in a file photo. (David McNew/Getty Images)
“Our country experienced a shortage of many things throughout the pandemic, but fresh fruits and vegetables were not one of them,” Caballero said in a statement. “If we want to truly show our gratitude, and address the disparities faced by our undocumented workforce, then we need to address the issue at the root of the problem.”…