US: NSAC urges Congress to seek real solutions for immigration reform

In recent months, members of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) have viewed with growing concern a series of policy proposals and actions aimed at reducing the number of undocumented immigrants in the United States and maintaining the agricultural workforce without providing those individuals a mechanism for attaining legal status. These efforts not only cause fear and strife for immigrants, migrants, refugees, and farmers across the country, they also risk exacerbating rather than solving the problems associated with our immigration system.

Farm workers harvest produce on an organic farm. Photo credit: Reana Kovalcik.

Many American farmers and ranchers rely on immigrant labor, and immigrants count on the American agricultural industry to provide meaningful, well-paying jobs. Given the importance of this relationship, and in response to recent immigration actions, NSAC members have developed a brief statement on the current situation with respect to immigration and agriculture.

"NSAC stands with immigrant, refugee, and migrant communities in a joint effort to realize a safe, vibrant, and respectful United States, including a just immigration system. We cannot have sustainability in agriculture and rural communities without ensuring that the health, safety, and basic needs of all are met. Along with sustainable use of natural resources, sustainable agriculture also includes economic viability, vibrant rural communities, and high quality of life for farmers, ranchers, and farm workers. To achieve these goals we need safe communities, an adequate workforce, and a culture of respect, all of which are being threatened by caustic, hateful, and hurtful rhetoric aimed at immigrants, refugees, and migrants."

Read more at NSAC