Van Orden Introduces Bill to Restore Integrity in Agriculture Immigrant Workforce System

Congressman Derrick Van Orden introduced the Agriculture Reform Act of 2025, a bill aimed at establishing a legal process for undocumented agricultural workers to transition to legal employment status. The bill would allow certain agricultural workers to voluntarily deport, pay a fine, and reenter the U.S. as a temporary agricultural worker after meeting specific requirements. This bill is not a pathway to citizenship or amnesty, but rather a structured and enforceable opportunity for undocumented workers to secure legal employment through voluntary departure and lawful reentry.

Key Takeaways:

• The Agriculture Reform Act of 2025 creates a voluntary departure and reentry program for undocumented agricultural workers who meet specific requirements.
• Covered aliens, defined as individuals who previously worked in agricultural labor in the U.S. since January 1, 2020, must voluntarily depart from the United States or have already been removed prior to the bill's enactment.
• To participate in the program, workers must pay a fee determined by the Secretary of Labor, while employers petitioning on behalf of the alien must also pay a fee as set by regulation.
• Employers may stagger the self-deportation of undocumented workers to prevent labor shortages.
• Workers must remain outside the U.S. for at least 30 days after self-deportation or removal before returning to the U.S. as a temporary agricultural worker.
• Additional provisions include immunity from prosecution for employers and covered aliens, waiver of inadmissibility/removability, and eligibility as a "covered alien."
• Rep. Van Orden stated that the bill is a real solution to addressing the mass influx of illegal aliens created by the Biden administration's open border policies, while also addressing the critical workforce needs of the agricultural industry.

Statistics:

• 30-day waiting period for workers to remain outside the U.S. before returning as a temporary agricultural worker.
• Fee previously worked in agricultural labor in the U.S. since January 1, 2020 (covered alien).
• 30 days for workers to remain outside the U.S. after self-deportation or removal before returning to the U.S.
• Immunity from prosecution under INA SS274A for employers employing covered aliens and immunity from prosecution under INA SSSS275 and 276 for prior unlawful entry/removal actions.

Sources:

• Van Orden, Derrick. "Van Orden Introduces Bill to Restore Integrity in Agriculture Immigrant Workforce System" (July 23).