Rep. Lofgren Pushes Bipartisan Plan to Grant Legal Status to Farmworkers and Require E-Verify in Agriculture
The Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2025 has been introduced and is currently being reviewed by several House committees. It is in the early stages of the legislative process and is not yet scheduled for a vote. The bill is considered active as it awaits further action from the assigned committees.
Farmworkers with certain criminal histories are barred from obtaining certified agricultural worker status. Any felony conviction, aggravated felony, two misdemeanor offenses involving moral turpitude, or three or more misdemeanors make a person ineligible. While some waivers exist for humanitarian purposes, the criminal bars could exclude workers who have lived and worked in the U.S. for many years.
“an alien is ineligible for certified agricultural worker or certified agricultural dependent status if the Secretary determines that, excluding any offense under State law for which an essential element is the alien's immigration status and any minor traffic offense, the alien has been convicted of-- (A) any felony offense”
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Education and Workforce, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
The Farm Workforce Modernization Act would provide legal status for existing agricultural workers and reform the H-2A visa program. It offers CAW status for 5.5 years to those with 180 days of recent farm work and allows year-round industries like dairy to access guest worker visas.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren discussed the reintroduction of H.R. 3227, noting that while the bill provides stability for farms and workers, it faces a difficult path in the Senate. The bill's reintroduction comes as immigration raids on farms in California and Florida have intensified.
Bipartisan lawmakers reintroduced the act to provide immigrant farmworkers with temporary and permanent legal status. The bill expands H-2A visas to cover dairy and year-round workers, with up to 20,000 visas available annually to stabilize the workforce and secure the food supply.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2025
Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.