New House Bill Proposes Amnesty for Undocumented Workers

A recent House bill aims to provide amnesty to undocumented immigrants based on their work record.

Introduced last month by Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-Pennsylvania), the Agriculture Workforce Security Act, known as HR 9535, boasts around 50 bipartisan co-sponsors. It’s a significant step towards addressing labor shortages in agriculture.

“The sad fact is that the American people don’t want to do this kind of work,” Thompson emphasized. It’s a challenging job, despite decent pay.

The bill proposes to revise the H-2A program, which facilitates legal foreign agricultural laborers. Changes would enable year-round operation while simplifying the application process, which many agree is cumbersome. Notably, it removes the “seasonal” requirement, allowing for contracts under 350 days—Thompson suggests this structure even offers two weeks of vacation, a potential perk for employees.

In a more controversial aspect, the bill includes a provision offering amnesty to those undocumented immigrants who can demonstrate they’ve worked at least 5.75 hours a day for 180 days over two years, as of May 31, 2026.

Thompson elaborated in a mid-July interview, saying, “This is not a path to citizenship. This is truly a solution to the tremendous problem of undocumented workers in our country.” He clarified that individuals would return home after three years and reapply for H-2A status.

Supporting evidence indicates a growing gap in labor. In 2025, agricultural producers listed approximately 400,000 job openings, but only 182 applicants managed to come forward, according to an analysis from the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Under the proposed reforms, employers must maintain records verifying work eligibility, although the bill does not mandate pay stubs or tax records. Interestingly, these records can’t be used to prosecute employers for any previous fraudulent employment practices. If proper audits aren’t enforced, employers are shielded from liability unless proven otherwise.

This approach echoes the flawed self-certification model seen in the 1986 “Special Agricultural Worker” amnesty program, which allowed around 400,000 workers to qualify, even though nearly 750,000 of those who eventually got legalized probably never held legitimate jobs.

Concerns linger about oversight and enforcement within this new proposal, with critics warning of potential fraud risks. Thompson’s initiative now awaits scrutiny from the House Judiciary Committee, led by Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who will determine its future.