Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) agree that the shortage of farm workers in the United States is approaching crisis levels. But they differ on how to address the problem as it relates to recent immigrants.
Witnesses at a May 31 hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee said current immigration law leaves immigrants open to exploitation and abuse by human traffickers and unethical employers.
“Our immigration system is failing; it’s failing them as well as our farmers and the American people,” said Durbin, who chairs the committee.
He agreed with witnesses who said most farm workers are illegal immigrants whose human rights must be protected by ensuring that agricultural labor reform includes the possibility of citizenship….