In his first address to a joint session of Congress, President Biden urged Congress to pass “a pathway to citizenship for farm workers who put food on our tables” by approving the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, and to “secure protection for Dreamers who have only known America as their home.”

The President repeated his enthusiastic support for the agricultural immigration bill, the result of months of tough bargaining between the United Farm Workers, UFW Foundation, the nation’s major grower associations and lawmakers from both parties. It passed the House on March 18 with 30 Republican votes, winning the most bipartisan support of any immigration proposal in years. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act would let undocumented farm workers earn legal status by continuing to work in agriculture.

“Farm workers during the pandemic didn’t ask if the food they picked was for Republicans or Democrats,” said UFW President Teresa Romero. “Even while suffering high COVID-19 infection and death rates, farm workers did not ask if the food they harvested was for red or blue states. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act has been approved by the House, now the Senate must act and get the bill to President Biden’s desk.”

“Farm workers feed everyone because every American eats,” said UFW Foundation Executive Director Diana Tellefson Torres. “Congress owes farm workers a path to citizenship and the Senate has the power to deliver. The bottom line is clear: The next 100 days are critical, there are no excuses not to act. The Senate must deliver on immigration now and protect farm workers, Dreamers and TPS recipients.”

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