The Fresno Chamber of Commerce board is urging bipartisan immigration reform as arrests by immigration authorities fuel anxiety among immigrant workers.

“U.S. immigration policy is a critical economic issue for Fresno County,” said Chamber President/CEO Scott Miller. “The atmosphere of uncertainty and fear around the issue affects us disproportionately in this area that depends so heavily on immigrant workers. We urge leaders from both parties to come together and deliver long overdue common-sense immigration reform.  We believe it is both possible and necessary to ensure a secure border while also providing a stable, legal workforce for our businesses.”

One step in that direction came in May, when a bipartisan group of U.S. representatives reintroduced the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, H.R. 3227. The bill would allow long-term farmworkers in the U.S. to earn legal status through continued agricultural employment, offering greater security for workers and stability for the industry. It also strengthens worker protections and modernizes the H-2A guestworker program, addressing long-standing uncertainty for both employees and employers.

While the Farm Workforce Modernization Act addresses agriculture, the need for immigration reform goes far beyond farms and fields. In the Central Valley, uncertainty around immigration affects nearly every industry as it ripples through the economy. Fear and confusion are disrupting the workforce that sustains this region.

The Chamber believes it’s time for leaders from both parties to come together to deliver solutions that bring clarity, stability, and long-term economic security to both businesses and workers. A modernized immigration system is not just a policy goal; it’s a business imperative for the Valley’s future.