September 24 2003

Legislation proposed in Congress would allow about half a million farmworkers to obtain a green card. Workers would first need to qualify for temporary legal status by demonstrating 100 days of agricultural employment over the 18-month period that ended August 31. This includes undocumented workers.

Then, to obtain a green card, workers would need to show 360 days of additional farm work over the next six years. Workers who obtain temporary legal status may work in other, non-agricultural areas as well, as long as they still complete their farm work requirement within the allotted time parameters.