Illegal Farmworkers Would Get Path to California Residency Under New Proposal

Farmworkers tend to strawberries growing in a field in Ventura County, Calif., on Feb. 10, 2021. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

Democrat state Sen. Anna Caballero in California introduced a residency program to help illegal immigrant farmworkers apply for citizenship on April 3.

The Agricultural Worker Permanent Residency Program would provide both local and federal aid to pave the way for agricultural workers to begin applying for legal permanent residency in California, according to Senate Bill 831.

In her news release, Caballero explained how the pandemic was a learning lesson for how essential farm workers were to the state during the outbreak of COVID-19, and that they deserved to be recognized by the government.

Migrant workers harvesting Italian squash near Indio, Calif., in a file photo. David McNew/Getty Images

“Our country experienced a shortage of many things throughout the pandemic, but fresh fruits and vegetables were not one of them,” Caballero said in a statement. “If we want to truly show our gratitude, and address the disparities faced by our undocumented workforce, then we need to address the issue at the root of the problem.”

Caballero said these workers are vital to providing food and economic benefits to the state, and that it’s only right to acknowledge their hard work and sacrifices and provide them with the equality that California citizens automatically receive.

“Creating a pathway to permanent residency status allows our undocumented friends, family, and neighbors to come out of the shadows, to live lives free of fear, and allow them to qualify for the safety net programs that they deserve and pay into,” Caballero added.

Pandemic Assistance

Democrat state Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia introduced the Excluded Workers Pilot Program last year, to support illegal immigrant workers who lost their jobs during the pandemic.

“Access to unemployment benefits can make all the difference in a family affording rent and food to feed their children,” Garcia said in a statement. “Our immigrant communities are Californians who contribute millions to our unemployment program and economy and they deserve access to program benefits they have earned. It is long overdue for California to lead on unemployment equity and inclusion for all workers, and this pilot program will help get us on track for a permanent solution.”

Eligible workers would have received up to $300 a week for 20 weeks.

The California Farmworker Health Study, published by the University of California–Merced Community and Labor Center, provides an inside look at the working environments and their effects on farm workers (pdf).

The study surveyed more than 1,200 farmworkers in six languages and asked workers about their health, housing, social, and financial situations.

Many farmworkers reside in the Central Valley and the Central Coast, the Bay Area, Inland Empire, and San Diego counties, according to the report, and 92 percent of farmworkers were renters and didn’t own their own homes, with many living in run-down living conditions.

Farmworkers’ median personal wages were estimated at $16,000 per year.

Sociology Professor Edward Flores, faculty director of the Community and Labor Center, explained how this report helps improve the working conditions for farm workers.

“Agriculture is one of California’s most vital and productive industries, yet many of its workers experience profound challenges in maintaining their health and well-being,” Flores said in a statement. “This report provides valuable data that should inform policy development advancing the health and wellbeing of agricultural workers.”