Vilsack says small group of Republicans block immigration reform, which could start with farm bills

Passing immigration reform should be easy, but a small group of House Republicans are blocking it, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack (left) told reporters Monday. "Vilsack said the lawmakers, whom he did not name, fail to understand the economic impact that immigration reform could mean to the nation," Derrick Cain reports for Agri-Pulse, a Washington newsletter. Vilsack said, “The reality is that American agriculture is not performing at its maximum due to an inadequate workforce."

While Vilsack didn't point fingers at any particular House member, "House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) have largely been standing in the way of movement of immigration reform legislation, supporters say," Cain notes. Goodlatte wants to replace the agricultural visa program that allows workers to stay for one year to one that allows 500,000 temporary agricultural laborers into the U.S. each per for up to 18 months.

Others have said they don't trust President Obama to enforce border security, which Vilsack called "a lame explanation…a flimsy excuse,” Cain writes. Twenty-two senators, led by Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) sent a letter to Obama last week challenging the administration's enforcement review, saying it will lead to fewer deportations.

"The Senate bill would allow undocumented farm workers to become eligible for an immigrant visa status called a 'blue card.' Under the legislation, blue-card holders could apply for lawful permanent resident status after five years if they have continued to work in agriculture, paid their taxes, and pay a fine," Cain writes. "House Republican leadership has preferred a piecemeal approach to the immigration issue focusing mainly on border security." (Read more)