Farm Bureau working group suggests biometric Ag Card for migrant workers

Would an ‘ag card’ labor proposal work for agriculture? (Western Farm Press)

To help alleviate labor shortages in U.S. agriculture, an American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) working group has proposed work authorization for “a limited population of key workers that have agricultural experience and will continue to work in agriculture to remain in status on what we call an ‘ag card,’” says Kristi Boswell, AFBF director of congressional relations.

The card would be biometric and carried by migrant laborers to prove work authorization.

Weak ID, Crime and the Economics of the Agricultural Sector

Editorial: Tamper-proof ID an idea worth trying (The Daily News - New York)

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer summed up nicely a little over a week ago what many farmers have been saying for years: Farmers need better tools for checking the identification of their workers.

Sen. Schumer was speaking in response to questions about the Oct. 30 stabbing death of Kathleen Byham in a store parking lot in Albion. The man charged with her death, Luis A.Rodriguez-Flamenco, confessed to killing her, offering no explanation for his action. Rodriguez-Flamenco, it turned out, is not only an illegal immigrant. He had been accused of committing another crime, but gave police a false name and was granted bail. He also turned out to be wanted in the state of Georgia for violating probation. He was able to evade the authorities for so long because immigration policies in this country have flaws big enough to drive harvesting machines through.

Earlier post along similar lines:
USA: Georgia Agricultural Commissioner and San Francisco County Clerk agree: Biometrics Make ID Stronger