8. Washington Watch:

Democrats press measure expediting Haitian immigration

The Hill in Washington, DC is reporting that lawmakers are targeting migration processes, as recovery efforts continue following the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Senators Menendez and Gillibrand and Representative Yvette Clark, all hailing from the New York City area, which has one of the largest Haitian immigrant populations in the country, are pushing legislation that would hasten visas for some Haitians.

The bills would allow approximately 55,000 Haitians with families in the United States who already have approved immigration status entry into the U.S. to speed their process of migration. The bill comes at a time of uncertainty as many Haitians are attempting to leave the poor island nation due to widespread property destruction and massive fatalities.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/79787-dem-lawmakers-pushing-measure-to-speed-immigration-for-haitians-with-familiesin-us

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Labor Dept. approves new rules for farm labor

The Associated Press reports that the Labor Department is reversing Bush administration rules that made it easier for farmers to hire temporary foreign workers to help pick their crops. However, the new regulations will increase wages and offer greater protections for foreign farm workers. The rules will also require growers to make a greater effort to fill those jobs with domestic workers.

Farm owners have opposed changes to the H-2A guest worker program. They say the new rules make it more burdensome and expensive to hire foreign workers for jobs that most Americans are not willing to do. On the other hand, labor and immigrant rights groups claimed the Bush regulations slashed farm wages and made it harder for domestic workers to claim those jobs. Farm workers on H-2A visas fill only about 2% to 3% of U.S. seasonal farm jobs, mostly in the fruit, vegetable, nursery and Christmas tree sectors, he said. Growers estimate that the vast majority of field workers are foreign-born, although only a fraction of those—86,000 in the last fiscal year—received visas under the program affected by the new rule.

Under the new rule, effective March 15, employers seeking H-2A visas for agricultural workers will be required to provide documented proof that they looked for qualified U.S. people to fill jobs, instead of simply attesting to the effort. The Labor Department also is creating a national electronic job registry to help growers find workers from the U.S. The department is also set to soon issue new guidelines for determining minimum wages at employers seeking to participate in the visa program.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/02/11/us/politics/AP-US-Guest-Workers.html

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Leahy irked by farm bill Plans to push legislation on foreign dairy workers

In related news, The Brattleboro Reformer in Vermont is reporting that the U.S. Labor Department failed to address the status of migrant dairy farm workers who are illegally working in Vermont in the new H-2A rule. The new rules about the H-2A program allow farmers to hire foreign laborers for seasonal work. However, dairy workers, who spend all year on the farm, have never been included in the H-2A program.

Although Senator Leahy urged the Labor Department to include the dairy workers last year while the new rule was under consideration, the Labor Department said it did not have the legal authority to include the entire dairy industry in the H-2A visa program.

Leahy wants the migrant dairy workers to be allowed in the country for a year, and then be eligible for additional one year periods as approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Also, under Leahy's proposed bill, workers would be able to petition to become U.S. citizens after three years.

U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis said the new rule protects both migrant workers and American farm workers. However, Vermonters worry that the exclusion of dairy farm workers in the new H-2A visa program will make dairy farmers more vulnerable to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and eventually make the industry collapse.

http://www.reformer.com/localnews/ci_14386851

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