Pressuring For Immigration

It won't be long now until workers are picking northwest cherries and more, provided there are enough workers to get the jobs done. Immigration is heating up and it appears the President's latest attempt to pressure House Republicans will not only backfire but make it harder to get any action done. The Ag Network's David Spark's has more.

SPARKS: Yesterday, Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte was critical of President Obama for delaying results of a review of the nation's deportations policy until late summer. According to the White House, the President wanted to allow House Republicans opportunity to act before Congress' August recess and November midterm elections. Goodlatte also said that, quote, "When the president says he's going to set a time limit and then consider taking actions himself ... that makes doing immigration reform harder not easier." Legislation is stalled in the House 11 months after the Senate passed a sweeping bill dealing with border security, workplace enforcement and eventual citizenship for millions.

Thanks David. The House did manage to vote on one immigration-related measure Thursday. Rep. Steve King, of Iowa, an immigration hardliner, offered an amendment to an annual spending bill aimed at encouraging the Justice Department to spend $5 million investigating the release of convicted criminal immigrants. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson told lawmakers the program known as "Secure Communities," which uses fingerprints submitted to the FBI to identify potentially deportable immigrants, should not be eliminated.

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