Latino Groups Support Bill to Legalize the Migrant Workforce
But will work to fix concerns about the treatment of temporary workers
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) MALDEF, joined by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and the William C. Velasquez Institute (WCVI), are pleased to support the bi-partisan compromise Agricultural Job Opportunity, Benefits and Security Act of 2003, S. 1645. The bill, which would legalize and allow migrant agricultural workers to finally stabilize their lives, is the first significant step towards the type of comprehensive immigration reform needed to not only legalize undocumented agricultural workers covered in this bill, but all hard-working undocumented workers and their families.
"Agricultural workers are some of the most exploited people in the Latino workforce. This bill would allow these workers to come out of the shadows and, not only provide them with legal status, but finally give them a voice of their own to end serious labor abuses," said Vibiana Andrade, MALDEF Vice President of Public Policy. "While the bill is a step in the right direction, MALDEF is still very concerned that it doesn't address ongoing issues affecting temporary workers. We will continue to work to improve the lives and treatment of temporary workers."
"This is a huge victory for the thousands of people who toil in the fields, and this bill recognizes the exploitation of these hard-working people whose labor America depends on," said Antonio Gonzalez, President of William C. Velasquez Institute.
"Our immigration system is broken, a situation that has allowed abuses in the agricultural community to exist for decades. This bill is a step in the right direction, but we can't forget about the needs of the thousands of temporary workers who are still subject to exploitation," said Gabriela Lemus, Director of Policy and Legislation for LULAC.
MALDEF, LULAC and WCVI will work to pass this historic piece of legislation but will also work to make sure that temporary workers are not left behind in the effort to legalize migrant workers. |
