House Speaker Boehner’s Refusal to Move Forward on Immigration Reform is Unacceptable

Yesterday, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) told reporters that he would not consider the bipartisan Senate immigration reform legislation passed in June, saying: “We have no intention of ever going to conference on the Senate bill.” Farmworker Justice urges Boehner to recognize the far-reaching consequences of this refusal, which is profoundly disappointing and a missed opportunity to strengthen the agricultural economy.

“Every day 1,120 families are ripped apart by our broken immigration system, while small businesses and agricultural employers struggle to find dependable workers to keep our economy going,” said Bruce Goldstein, President of Farmworker Justice. “House Speaker Boehner’s dismissal of the Senate’s effort to address our broken immigration system is appalling.”

 The Senate’s bipartisan bill is the product of months of difficult negotiations.  It includes a carefully written compromise accepted by farmworker and agricultural interests. It would help stabilize the farm labor workforce and grant eligible farmworkers the opportunity to earn legal immigration status. It would allow farmworker families to remain together and build better lives, while affording growers access to skilled and reliable workers.

 “Boehner has the opportunity to help put 11 million aspiring Americans on a path to citizenship and to end the crisis in our immigration system,” said Goldstein.  “It is unacceptable for him to refuse to come to the table to negotiate with the Senate.”

“We are united as a nation by a deep respect for those who labor to make our nation stronger. We depend on farmworkers every day for our nation’s food security. They should be treated with dignity and respect, and be afforded an opportunity to earn an immigration status for themselves and their families. It’s time to finally address our immigration crisis.”

Yesterday, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) told reporters that he would not consider the bipartisan Senate immigration reform legislation passed in June, saying: “We have no intention of ever going to conference on the Senate bill.” Farmworker Justice urges Boehner to recognize the far-reaching consequences of this refusal, which is profoundly disappointing and a missed opportunity to strengthen the agricultural economy.

“Every day 1,120 families are ripped apart by our broken immigration system, while small businesses and agricultural employers struggle to find dependable workers to keep our economy going,” said Bruce Goldstein, President of Farmworker Justice. “House Speaker Boehner’s dismissal of the Senate’s effort to address our broken immigration system is appalling.”

 The Senate’s bipartisan bill is the product of months of difficult negotiations.  It includes a carefully written compromise accepted by farmworker and agricultural interests. It would help stabilize the farm labor workforce and grant eligible farmworkers the opportunity to earn legal immigration status. It would allow farmworker families to remain together and build better lives, while affording growers access to skilled and reliable workers.

 “Boehner has the opportunity to help put 11 million aspiring Americans on a path to citizenship and to end the crisis in our immigration system,” said Goldstein.  “It is unacceptable for him to refuse to come to the table to negotiate with the Senate.”

“We are united as a nation by a deep respect for those who labor to make our nation stronger. We depend on farmworkers every day for our nation’s food security. They should be treated with dignity and respect, and be afforded an opportunity to earn an immigration status for themselves and their families. It’s time to finally address our immigration crisis.”