Just when Americans thought Congress might have learned its lesson about immigration amnesty, a bipartisan group of lawmakers is pushing legislation that would allow certain illegal immigrants already working on American farms to obtain temporary legal status.
And the most troubling part for immigration hawks? The overwhelming majority of the bill’s cosponsors are Republicans.
H.R. 9535, the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act of 2026, was introduced on June 30 by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA).
The legislation has attracted 61 cosponsors, including 52 Republicans and nine Democrats, according to congressional tracking data.
The bill is being marketed as a solution to America’s agricultural labor shortage. But buried among provisions expanding the H-2A agricultural guest-worker program is a controversial measure allowing certain individuals already in the country illegally to qualify for temporary work visas, according to Retired ICE Deputy Field Office Director Scott Mechkowski.
The Congressional Research Service summary makes that provision unmistakably clear:
“The bill also establishes an H-2A visa pathway for current unauthorized agricultural workers who otherwise meet requirements.”
Mechkowski wrote on X:
“CONGRESS IS SLIPPING AMNESTY INTO A FARM LABOR BILL
Don’t take my word for it. Read the official summary from the Congressional Research Service.
H.R. 9535, the “Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act.” Sponsored by House Agriculture Chairman Glenn Thompson. 61 cosponsors, 52 of them Republicans.
One line tells you everything. The bill “establishes an H-2A visa pathway for current unauthorized agricultural workers who otherwise meet requirements.”
Current unauthorized workers. People who are here illegally right now.
The sponsor’s pitch: “With the border now secure, it is time to address these shortcomings.”
The border is more secure because we finally started enforcing the law. You don’t reward that by handing a visa to the people who broke it.
And the timing couldn’t be worse. Monday night the President said, “We haven’t put the same pressure on waitresses and on farmworkers, etc. Not even close.” That’s exactly the opening this bill’s supporters have been waiting for.
We’ve seen this movie before. In 1986 Congress created the Special Agricultural Worker program, and it was riddled with fraud, with applicants claiming farm work they never did. My career taught me that every carve-out turns into a business model. Make farm work the safe lane and the fake employment letters will show up by the truckload.
Farmers have a real labor problem and I’m not dismissing it. Fix H-2A. Speed it up. Cut the red tape. Let it run year-round. That’s legal labor and I’ll support it.
Trending: “CONGRATULATIONS, YOU’RE STUPID!” — Sen. John Kennedy TORCHES Anyone Calling the 2026 Midterms Normal
But a visa for people who are here illegally isn’t a workforce plan. It’s amnesty in overalls.
Call your representative and ask one question: are you one of the 61?”
🌾 CONGRESS IS SLIPPING AMNESTY INTO A FARM LABOR BILL
Don’t take my word for it. Read the official summary from the Congressional Research Service.
H.R. 9535, the “Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act.” Sponsored by House Agriculture Chairman Glenn Thompson. 61 cosponsors, 52 of them Republicans.
One line tells you everything. The bill “establishes an H-2A visa pathway for current unauthorized agricultural workers who otherwise meet requirements.”
Current unauthorized workers. People who are here illegally right now.
The sponsor’s pitch: “With the border now secure, it is time to address these shortcomings.”
The border is more secure because we finally started enforcing the law. You don’t reward that by handing a visa to the people who broke it.
And the timing couldn’t be worse. Monday night the President said, “We haven’t put the same pressure on waitresses and on farmworkers, etc. Not even close.” That’s exactly the opening this bill’s supporters have been waiting for.
We’ve seen this movie before. In 1986 Congress created the Special Agricultural Worker program, and it was riddled with fraud, with applicants claiming farm work they never did. My career taught me that every carve-out turns into a business model. Make farm work the safe lane and the fake employment letters will show up by the truckload.
Farmers have a real labor problem and I’m not dismissing it. Fix H-2A. Speed it up. Cut the red tape. Let it run year-round. That’s legal labor and I’ll support it.
But a visa for people who are here illegally isn’t a workforce plan. It’s amnesty in overalls.
Call your representative and ask one question: are you one of the 61?
@POTUS @StephenM @RealTomHoman @SecMullinDHS @ICEgov @HouseAgGOP @CongressmanGT @Jim_Jordan @JudiciaryGOP @Phase2Deport @NICEnforcement @itsyourgov
— Scott Mechkowski (@ScottMechkowski) November 11, 2026
According to the official Congress.gov cosponsor list for the 119th Congress, 52 Republicans are currently listed as active cosponsors of H.R. 9535 (Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act of 2026). Four additional Republicans previously cosponsored the bill but later withdrew.
Active Republican Cosponsors (52)
- Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA-4)
- Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID-2)
- Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA-4)
- Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC-7)
- Rep. Trent Kelly (R-MS-1)
- Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-TX-15)
- Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-UT-2)
- Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT-1)
- Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-NY-23)
- Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN-4)
- Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA-11)
- Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX-17)
- Rep. Julie Fedorchak (R-ND-At-Large)
- Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24)
- Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL-3)
- Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA-16)
- Rep. Dan Meuser (R-PA-9)
- Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI-2)
- Rep. Gabe Evans (R-CO-8)
- Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC-2)
- Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA-1)
- Rep. David Kustoff (R-TN-8)
- Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC-11)
- Rep. Laurel Lee (R-FL-15)
- Rep. David Taylor (R-OH-2)
- Rep. Rick Allen (R-GA-12)
- Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN-7)
- Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI-4)
- Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY-2)
- Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI-3)
- Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE-2)
- Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA-8)
- Rep. Brad Finstad (R-MN-1)
- Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27)
- Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-OR-2)
- Rep. David Valadao (R-CA-22)
- Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX-10)
- Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL-12)
- Rep. Troy Downing (R-MT-2)
- Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-1)
- Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL-16)
- Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ-2)
- Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN-3)
- Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC-9)
- Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-TX-6)
- Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-IN-3)
- Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY-1)
- Rep. Mike Ezell (R-MS-4)
- Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI-1)
- Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY-17)
- Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL-28)
- Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA-7)
Republicans Who Withdrew Cosponsorship (4)
- Rep. Brian Jack (R-GA-3) — Withdrew July 21, 2026
- Rep. Tim Moore (R-NC-14) — Withdrew July 22, 2026
- Rep. Mark Messmer (R-IN-8) — Withdrew July 22, 2026
- Rep. Mike Flood (R-NE-1) — Withdrew September 2, 2026
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