Plan to give up to 1.5 mln US immigrants farm visas

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A new bid for immigration reform, backed by the White House and a bipartisan group of U.S. senators, would provide up to 1.5 million unauthorized farm workers temporary visas and give experienced farm hands a special boost in seeking legalization.

The special provisions for immigrant farm workers are a nod to U.S. agriculture's reliance on undocumented immigrants, who make up an estimated 70 percent of the U.S. farm workforce.

"More than any industry, the future of U.S. agriculture is tied to the outcome of the immigration debate," Sen Larry Craig, an Idaho Republican, said in a statement as lawmakers revealed details of how the immigration package would affect farm workers.

The sheer size of that group, about 1.1 million strong at this time, makes immigration a bottom-line issue for many U.S. farmers.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat, said the separate farm worker provisions of the package ensure a steady workforce and provide "a way out of the shadows for those who have worked in agriculture" and will do so in the future.

But the fate of the overall plan, expected to be debated next week in the Senate, is uncertain as it comes under fire from members of both parties.

Under the proposal, workers would have to show they had worked on a farm a minimum number of days in recent years.

Those who meet certain requirements could apply to receive a green card in about 8 years' time, after the bottleneck clears of people already waiting for green cards.

They would, however, get a bump to the front of the line at that point with extra points in the plan's "merit" system.

"We're happy the leaders in this process have recognized agriculture is unique. We're eager to get a program in place," even if the plan isn't ideal, said Craig Regelbrugge, a co-chair of the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform, which includes farm and other groups.

He said the plan was designed to retain experienced workers for U.S. farms. "This piece is open to those who have been toiling in the fields and feeding America," he said.

The deal would also seek to streamline a program for future seasonal workers and set up a number of additional provisions. Workers from Mexico or Central America, for example, would be required to "touchback" or return home before getting their green card, and workers would have to prove they can speak English before receiving a green card.