Immigration Reform

In 1986, when Congress enacted employer sanctions as part of the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), Congress also agreed that a program was needed to ensure the continuation of an adequate supply of temporary and seasonal workers for American agriculture. However, the immigration reform legislation passed by Congress in 1996 still failed to address the problem. As Congress looks at the issue of controlling illegal immigration, the Society of American Florists supports efforts to ensure the labor needs of the agricultural community are addressed.

SAF supports creation of a program to ensure that an adequate guestworker labor force is available to American floriculture. Creating a workable temporary and seasonal agricultural worker program that meets the labor needs of the floral industry while protecting the rights of guestworkers must be a part of any immigration reform legislation.

Keywords: floral legislation, government relations, immigration reform, AgJOBS bill