AmericanHort's statement on president Obama’s immigration executive actions
The president announced measures intended to provide relief from deportation and work authority to unauthorized immigrants who are not legally present in the United States but have been here for five or more years, and have U.S.-born (citizen) children. No definitive statistics exist regarding how many nursery, greenhouse, landscape, retail, and other horticulture industry workers may meet these requirements, but undoubtedly thousands will. No one knows how many qualifying workers will actually apply to seek relief from deportation, but again, it is likely that many will.
The president’s action is politically divisive, and many Republican legislators say this unilaterally “poisons the well” for reform. That dire prediction need not be the case. Republicans have a few choices. They can do nothing. They can try to kill the president’s action through political or legal blocking manoeuvres, but both are dubious. Or, they can mobilize to pass needed legislative solutions that supersede and replace the executive actions.
Many AmericanHort members and association partners have spent untold time and treasure working to educate Congress and the American people on the failings of our antiquated immigration system. There have been heady times. We came within hours of a solution passing along with a broader spending bill in mid-December, 2000. The bills we supported passed the Senate in 1998, 2006, and 2013. And there have been setbacks, such as President Clinton’s veto threat in 1998, the terrorist attacks of 9/11/2001, and the collapse of the “comprehensive immigration reform” push in 2007.
We know that new legislation is the only real solution that can bring about a 21st century immigration system for a 21st century America, and so our commitment to the legislative process must remain strong. Hindsight being 20/20, we may look back and conclude that President Obama’s action was a catalyst for Congressional action that should have happened seven or 14 years ago.
Meanwhile, there will be misinformation and confusion. There will be opportunists who try to take advantage of vulnerable peoples’ greatest hopes or worst fears. There will be striving workers who see “deferred action” as their best hope. There will be employers who want to help trained and trusted workers who are like family make the best of the limited and uncertain opportunity now presented to them.
For AmericanHort, the task ahead is two-fold. First, help our members navigate the swirling rapids with sound legal and practical guidance. As we are made aware of the specific policy and operational changes we will inform our membership and other stakeholders. Secondly, we will continue the political work that is needed to arrive at a legislative solution that is the only real path to addressing the present challenges and providing for the future.
For More Information:
AmericanHort
Craig J. Regelbrugge, Senior Vice President
Industry Advocacy and Research
T: +1 202 789 8111 Direct
Email: [email protected]
www.americanhort.org