Issue Position: Agriculture and Immigration Reform

Issue Position

Agriculture is one of the strongest economic drivers in West Michigan. In fact, the impact of food and agriculture on Michigan's economy is estimated at $91.4 billion, and accounts for nearly 1 in 4 jobs. The Second District is one of the most agriculturally diverse in Michigan and is a leader in livestock, poultry, pork, fruit, nursery, greenhouse, and floriculture production. While in Congress, I have consistently stood up for the hard working business owners in agriculture.

Our immigration laws are broken. I will continue to advocate for immigration reform that respects the rule of law, protects our borders, and does not provide amnesty. We should not reward those that have broken the law with citizenship. We need a reasonable, practical, and legal guest worker program for those who want to come to the U.S. for a limited time in order to gain employment and return home when the work is done. I recognize that foreign workers play a role in Michigan's economy, particularly in the agricultural community, and we need to provide a method of enforcing the law and documenting the movement of temporary workers over the border.

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