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From the Ag Information Network, Im Bob Larson. The agricultural labor shortage continues to be a major issue impacting farmers and consumers across the country.

Enrique Sanchez is the American Business Immigration Coalitions intermountain state director, and he says this is a national security issue

SANCHEZ It is critical that we address this issue urgently to keep grocery store shelves stocked and lower food prices for Americans everywhere. We cannot underestimate the importance of this issue to our national security. As we have heard before, food security is national security. The USDA predicts that this year, our country will import more agricultural goods than we export. This should be a wake-up call for all of us.

Sanchez says reforming immigration policy took a big step forward in 2021, but proponents couldnt get it across the finish line

SANCHEZ In 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act for the second time with bipartisan support. However, the Senate failed to take up the legislation, and we lost an important opportunity to make much-needed reforms to address the labor shortage crisis. We need the Senate to do its job, negotiate improvements to the House legislation, and get solutions onto the floor that help our nation's farmers continue to produce and help our nation's families afford to put food on their tables.

Tune in tomorrow for more on immigration reform to improve the ag labor shortage.

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Immigration Reform Pt 1 - AG INFORMATION NETWORK OF THE ... - AGInfo Ag Information Network

Mayor Eric Adams gave President Joe Biden and his administration a forceful message on Wednesday, as the mayor urged the White House to immediately authorize work permits for asylum seekers.

Washington. It is time to respond. Enough is enough. New Yorkers deserve better, Adams said at a press conference.

Approximetely 55,000 migrants have entered the citys shelter system over the past year, with more than 34,000 asylum seekers currentlyin the citys care, according to the mayor.

Currently, asylum seekers have a six-month waiting period before they can legally work.

Adams noted that the ability to work is a top priority for asylum seekers.

They dont want our free shelter. They dont want free food. They dont want free clothing. Theyre saying, 'Can we work?' Adams said.

Adams noted that due to a lack of work authorization permits, migrants have been forced to rely on illegal forms of employment.

City officials also called for extending immigration programs like Temporary Protected Status and humanitarian parole for asylum seekers, programs that allow migrants to remain in the U.S. for safety reasons.

Adams also called for an increase in staffing at immigration offices to reduce the processing time of asylum applications.

We have a heavy influx, but we dont have the population and the personnel to process them, Adams said.

In response, a White House official in a statement pointed to the need for Congress to act on immigration reform.

Individuals who arrive in the United States under our expanded parole programs are eligible for work authorization. Our administration has also used existing tools, like Temporary Protected Status, for certain populations. But none of these administrative tools are a substitute for congressional action. We need Congress to act. Only they can reform and modernize our decades-old immigration laws, the official said in an emailed response on Wednesday.

Adams call comes as Title 42, an immigration policy that allows federal officials to expel asylum seekers from entering the country during a public health emergency, is set to expire in May.

Currently, about 200 migrants are arriving daily to the city but that number is expected to grow next month.

Thousands of people are waiting at the border and potentially end up in New York City, Adams said before admonishing the Biden administration for their lack of help. Why are you doing this to New York? The national government has turned its back on New York City.

Meanwhile, the city has spent about $817 million sheltering and feeding asylum seekers and is said to be on track to spend $1.4 billion by June.

Adams is expected to visit Washington on Friday for a conference. He will also meet with several White House administration officials to talk about asylum seekers.

Link:
Mayor calls on president to expedite work authorization for migrants - Spectrum News NY1

FAIR Take | April2023

The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), along with the strongest-ever assembled coalition of immigration groups and leaders, has repeatedly called on the House Majority to fulfill the promise it made in its Commitment to America. and pass legislation that addresses the Biden Border Crisis. We expect action could occur as early as thisweek.

Since the 118th Congress began in January, FAIR has worked to help formulate a strategy to pass strong immigration legislation to combat the Biden Administrations reckless and open-border policies. In a recent letter to House leadership, FAIR and its partners reiterated that we expect changes to our laws to close loopholes that have been weaponized by the Biden Administration. Specifically, we want meaningful solutions to protect the border, strengthen our asylum laws and prevent fraudulent claims, end the abuse of parole authority, and require re-implementation of authorities like Title 42 and the Migrant ProtectionProtocols.

This week, as Congress returns from recess, FAIR is going to continue working with leaders to push legislation through the committee process. But, we cannot do it alone. We need you to urge Congress to keep its promise, secure the border, and end Bidens lawless policies. The time is now. Our nation simply cannot withstand the damage being done to our sovereignty, security, andwell-being.

Stay tuned for FAIR Action Alerts and ways you canhelp.

Read more:
This Week: FAIR Pushes Congress to Act - Federation for American Immigration Reform

News

By Victor Nava and MaryAnn Martinez

April 19, 2023 | 6:05pm

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas rose out of his seat Wednesday during a tense hearing on Capitol Hill and turned to face the family of a grandmother and 7-year-old girl killed last month in a Texas car crash involving an alleged human smuggler.

Theyre sitting right behind you, Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas) told Mayorkas as he presented the relatives of Maria Tambunga, 71, and her granddaughter, Emilia Tambunga, 7, during the House Homeland Security Committee hearing.

The Tambungas were killed March 13 when Rassian Natery Comer, 22, blew through a red light and smashed his truck into their car at an intersection near the Mexico border.

According to authorities, Comer was fleeing police and transporting 11 illegal immigrants in his truck two of whom also died in the wreck.

The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating Comer for human smuggling and other crimes.

They came here today because they want answers, Pfluger told Mayorkas of the Tambungas next of kin. They came here today because of the failures of you and your leadership. They came here because they want closure.

Pfluger then demanded that Mayorkas apologize to the family for his failure to secure the border, which the lawmaker argued led to the death of the Tambungas.

Mr. Mayorkas, will you turn around and offer them your condolences and an apology for the failure of your administration that led to the death of their loved ones? asked Pfluger. Theyre right there.

Mayorkas partially obliged, turning to face the grieving family and expressing his condolences, but he did not offer an apology.

Mr. Chairman, may I stand in turn? Mayorkas asked, before addressing the family without a microphone.

The DHS chief could be heard telling the group, My heart breaks for your loss. My heart breaks for the loss of all victims of criminal activity.

Mayorkas then agreed to meet with the family in Pflugers office on the condition that the Republican not politicize the meeting, adding that the lawmaker was politicizing tragedy.

Mr. Secretary, the only person politicizing anything here is you, Pfluger shot back. The security of this country is not a political matter.

Gin Jespersen, aunt to Emilia and daughter of Maria, told The Post on Wednesday that Mayorkas followed through with his promise to meet with the family, during which they showed him images of the horrific injuries the little girl suffered in the crash..

We showed him a video of little Emilias head blown away, Jespersen told The Post.

Jespersen added that Mayorkas was very apologetic and very sincere during their 15-20 minute meeting, but at one point he tried to talk a little bit of politics.

He said, my colleagues here and I said, No, no, no, no, no. I dont care if hes Democrat or Republican, were going to town on all of you, all because we cant bring them back, but we can create change. Im asking you to work with this group here to create change. Theres no reason why you cannot create change, Jespersen recalled.

After Mayorkas mentioned an immigration reform bill, Jespersen said she told him, I dont need an immigration reform bill. I need you to send 3,000 troops down there to secure the border and then talk about immigration reform.

Were all Mexican-American here, and you just ignore us, she recalled telling the DHS chief. Its like were not down there [on the border] and its not happening, and it is. I would ask you to come down and be with the families.

We were pretty hard on him, Jespersen said. We wanted to be heard, not necessarily wanted to hear his rhetoric.

She added that the family asked Mayorkas to talk to President Biden about Emilia and Maria.

Mayorkas has faced intense scrutiny from Republicans since taking office, and more so since the GOP took control of the House after the 2022 midterm elections.

Two resolutions to impeach the DHS secretary have been introduced in the House, which accuse the Biden official of high crimes and misdemeanors related to his handling of the crisis at the southern border.

Mayorkas admitted to Senate lawmakers Tuesday that there is likely to be a surge of migrants at the border next month when the pandemic-era Title 42 swift deportation policy ends, and he offered little to assuage Republican fears that his agency is prepared for the influx.

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Mayorkas made to face kin of Texas grandma, child killed by 'smuggler' - New York Post

WASHINGTON, April 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The House Republican majority today made good on their campaign pledge to address the wholesale abuse of our political asylum laws that has led the raging migration crisis. The comprehensive Border Security and Enforcement Act is slated for a mark up by the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. Additional legislation is expected to be introduced by the House Homeland Security Committee later this week.

"In little more than two years since President Biden took office, some 6 million people have entered the United States illegally, many of them making frivolous claims for asylum. The result has been an unprecedented crisis at our southern border, crushing burdens on states and localities where the migrants are settling, and boon to Mexican criminal cartels that control human smuggling and trafficking, and the influx of lethal narcotics into the United States. This bill would reassert control of our borders," said Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).

Among the key provisions of the bill:

"FAIR has worked closely with members of Congress on many key provisions of the Border Security and Enforcement Act and urges the committee to approve the measure and send it to the full House for a final vote as quickly as possible. The crisis that is being felt in almost every state and community across the country will only get worse as the administration ends Title 42 next month and immediate passage of this legislation is essential," concluded Stein.

Contact: Ron Kovach, 202-328-7004 or [emailprotected].

ABOUT FAIR

Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform group. With over 3 million members and supporters nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is recognized and enforced.

SOURCE Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR)

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FAIR Calls for Swift Passage of House Immigration Bill that Would ... - PR Newswire