Catherwood LibraryILR School

Faced with increasing labor shortages as legal immigrants move out of agricultural employment, farmers have joined with the United Farm Workers (UFW) and civil rights groups to push for legislation that would make it easier for gainfully employed undocumented immigrants and guest workers to gain citizenship. An assortment of competing bills containing various versions of such a policy were introduced in both houses of Congress last year, and were near the top of the Bush administration?s immigration agenda until the September 11 terrorist attacks changed the focus of immigration policy from labor supply problems to security concerns. Through the Million Voices for Legalization campaign, growers, unions and community activists have been lobbying for renewed attention to such legislation, and hope to send one million postcards calling for such legislation to the president this fall.