Abogada Nancy Reyes Guarderas of the Matian Firm | La Liga Defensora is scheduled to appear on California radio and TV stations to discuss the impact of the Agricultural Workforce Modernization Act for California immigrant farmers and ranchers.
Fresno County is home to 1.88 million acres of the world’s most productive farmland. Agricultural operations in Fresno alone cover nearly half of the county’s entire land base of 3.84 million acres. Farming is an integral part of the economy in Fresno, but a labor shortage is threatening production.
In early March, California Representative Zoe Lofren (D) was one of the lawmakers to reintroduce the Agricultural Workforce Modernization Act to reform the H-2A visa program in an effort to address the agricultural labor shortage. This crippling labor shortage has affected nearly every corner of California agriculture in particular because the Golden State is the nation’s largest agricultural producer, growing more than 400 commodities valued at $50 billion.
The act creates a program for agricultural workers in the United States to earn legal status for them and their family members. It establishes a new status, “certified agricultural worker.” The status could be extended indefinitely with continued farm work (at least 100 days per year)over time and a pathway to a green card and citizenship. In addition, the act reforms the temporary visa program (H.2A) for rural workers to provide more flexibility for employers while ensuring critical protections for workers.
If the law passes in the Senate, the Department of Homeland Security would also be able to grant the status to spouses and children of qualifying immigrants. Workers with 10 years of agricultural work prior to the date of enactment must complete additional years of such work to earn a path to a green card. For those workers with less than 10 years, they must complete eight additional years of such work.
Guarderas said, “These are the hands that feed our nation. They continued to work during the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. We need to stabilize our agricultural sector and protect our farm workers. They deserve protections provided by this bill.”
Nancy Reyes Guarderas’ expertise is on immigration rights and visas, as she has been advocating and guiding her clients through the immigration process since 1998.
Guarderas has extensive experience filing affirmative and defensive applications for her clients before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service. She has also conducted hearings before the United States Immigration Court, briefing and appealing before the Administrative Appeals Office, Board of Immigration Appeals, and the United States 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Guarderas has helped thousands of clients with direct services, conducted community outreach for thousands of people, and trained hundreds of private and non-profit attorneys, social workers, and law students through panels, training, and guest lecturer opportunities at USC’s School of Social Work and Loyola Law School.
Listen to Abogada Nancy Reyes Guarderas discuss these changes and what they mean for immigrant farmers on:
Monday @ 7:00AM & 9:00AM on La Raza 97.9 (KLAX-FM) & La Raza 93.3 (KRZZ-FM) with El Terrible
Monday & Friday @ 8:35AM on Recuerdo 103.9/98.3 (KRCD-FM) with Maria Esther
Monday & Tuesday @ 1:15PM on Amor 100.3 – Univision Radio (KBRG-FM) with Glorybella
Monday @ 3:10PM on Jose 97.5/107.1 (KLYY-FM) with Erazno y La Chokolata
Tuesday @ 1:50PM on Jose 97.5/107.1 (KLYY-FM) with Eddie “Piolin” Sotelo
Tuesday & Thursday @ 8:20AM on Que Buena 105.5/94.3 (KBUE-FM) with Don Cheto
Wednesday & Friday @ 10:00AM on Jose 97.5/107.1 (KLYY-FM) with Irma Covarrubias
Wednesday @ 2:25PM on LA 101.9 & Que Buena 98.9 – Univision Radio (KSCA-FM & KSOL-FM) with La Bronca
Wednesday @ 4:45PM on K-LOVE 107.5 – Univision Radio (KLVE-FM) with Ysaac Alvarez
Thursday @ 8:00 AM on Jose 97.5/107.1 (KLYY-FM) with Alex “El Genio” Lucas
Thursday @ 1:00 PM on Que Buena 98.9 – Univision Radio (KSOL-FM) with El Zorro
Thursday @ 6:00 PM on La Raza 93.3 (KRZZ-FM) with El Compa Gil
Visit laligadefensora.com for a full interview schedule.
About Nancy Reyes Guarderas
Nancy Reyes Guarderas is an immigration attorney, licensed to practice in the State of California, since 1998. Prior to joining The Matian Firm dba La Liga Defensora, Mrs. Reyes Guarderas was a Senior Staff Attorney at theLegal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) as an immigration attorney. LAFLA serves as the frontline law firm for poor and low-income people in Los Angeles. She also serves as a regular Legal Analyst for Univision TV and Radio. Mrs. Reyes Guarderas delivers important legal information, explains nuances and complexities in immigration law and provides breaking news and analysis on the changing landscape of immigration legislation.
About the Matian Firm
The Matian Firm | La Liga Defensora, is a California-based immigration law, criminal defense, employment law, and personal injury law firm. Under the direction of the firm’s President, Shawn F. Matian, Esq., The Matian Firm | La Liga Defensora is dedicated to providing zealous advocacy on behalf of their clients. A continuous practice of reinvestment into the firm serves to enhance Matian’s mission. With a combined 40,000 square feet of newly built office space and over 175 employees, The Matian Firm | La Liga Defensora is one of the fastest-growing law firms in all of California.
The Matian Firm | La Liga Defensora has helped tens of thousands of clients with their immigration, criminal and injury cases, by providing excellent legal services. This consistent track record of outstanding work has been notably recognized by the legal community as evidenced by the many awards that have been bestowed upon the firm including: Super Lawyers | Rising Stars; The National Top 100 Trial Lawyers; Lawyers of Distinction Award; Nationally Ranked Top 10 Attorney Award; 10 Best Law Firms Client Satisfaction; and Avvo’s Client Choice Award, amongst other accolades.
The Matian Firm | La Liga Defensora is located at 3701 Wilshire Blvd Suite 210, Los Angeles, California 90010. Northern California at 111 N. Market Street Suite 888 in San Jose, California 95113 and the Inland Empire in Ontario located at 4200 Concourse St. Ontario, CA 91764.
More information on the firm, its attorneys, and its casework please visit: www.matianfirm.com
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