Immigration Outlook Part 3

Immigration Outlook Part 3. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

The recent election will more than likely have a better influence on any immigration legislation in the next year. Frank Gasparini with the National Council of Agricultural Employers says the newly elected officials will have their work cut out for them.

GASPARINI: We have a whole lot of new members coming into Congress who are soon going to learn a very different political reality. Some have been state legislators or local legislators, being in Congress is very different. Some have not really been in politics at all. They’ve come out of running their local car dealership or insurance agency or being a teacher. Much like state legislators being in Washington is very, very different.

He says now that the election is over we seem to think the problem will be fixed.

GASPARINI: We have voters all around the country expecting in January when the new Congress is seated we’re going to see an instant fix to all the problems we have in agriculture and all the other problems that caused main street America to do what was done in November and change parties in the House, and there are no instant fixes in federal politics. Believe me there just aren’t.

With all these changes Gasparini says the main issue is:

GASPARINI: We still have the same Department of Labor, the same Homeland Security Secretary, the same Department of Justice folks and our Department of Labor Secretary is very much a labor rights activist. She still believes that what you do is evil.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.