The incoming chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee says he’ll let the House move first on immigration reform in the new session of Congress. “That way, we wouldn’t be wasting our time,” said Sen Chuck Grassley of Iowa. The Senate passed a comprehensive immigration bill, including a separate path to citizenship for farm workers, after weeks of divisive debate in 2013. But action stalled in the House, where Republican leaders said they wanted to act piecemeal on reform. Lawmakers are expected to adjourn in December without final action on an immigration bill.
During a conference call with reporters, Grassley said there is little controversy over action on agricultural workers. An estimated one-half of farm workers are undocumented. Growers say the guest worker program is inefficient and unwieldy. Grassley, who voted against the Senate bill, says a first priority on immigration should be border security.