Industry Responds to Obama Immigration Pitch
Las Vegas, NV-
By ANUK Staff
1.30.13
President Obama spoke in Las Vegas yesterday, outlining his three-pronged immigration reform plan.
“I’m here because most Americans agree that it’s time to fix a system that’s been broken for way too long,” said Obama. “I believe we are finally at a moment where comprehensive immigration reform is within our grasp.”
The plan includes strengthening border enforcement, providing a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants already in the country, and streamlining the legal immigration process for higher- educated individuals.
Both Western Growers and United Fresh are in favor of immigration reform.
Ray Gilmer, Vice President of Issues Management and Communication at United Fresh said, “United Fresh applauds President Obama’s proposals and looks forward to working with administrative officials to achieving full reforms for agricultural employers. United is currerntly working with Agricultural Workforce Coalition, a broad industry coalition.”
Western Growers noted that reforms would allow producers to keep their experienced workforce.
Of the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States, Obama said: “They’re contributing members of the community. They're looking out for their families. They're looking out for their neighbors. They're woven into the fabric of our lives.”
“We’ve got to lay out a path -- a process that includes passing a background check, paying taxes, paying a penalty, learning English, and then going to the back of the line, behind all the folks who are trying to come here legally. It won’t be a quick process but it will be a fair process.”
White House - Immigration
