TAMPA, Fla. — The Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021 has passed in the U.S. House, but still has a way to go. 

However, for more than a million immigrant farm workers, it could make a huge difference.

“These are people that put food on the tables and throughout the pandemic there was one thing that was stable was the fact that we didn’t have an interruption with our food. We owe farmers this bill,” said Bay Area Immigration Attorney Emel Ersan.

Ersan says it’s a path and process for legal status. 

“The way this bill is prepared, it gives them legal visas to work with right now. In order for them to have a path to citizenship, in order for them to get a permanent residency status, they have to continue working. It’s not just a free ticket,” said Ersan.

She says it’ll happen in levels over time and employees will have to pass background checks.

While the piece of legislation may go through a lot of revisions before it’s passed, she says the companies themselves and the agricultural industry as a whole could see more stability and consistency. 

“Your going to have full time employees, legal, and that’s going to help the industry as well,” she said.