President Bush and the Republican leadership in the United States Senate has pulled out all the stops to prevent a vote on even the most basic proposal to fairly and rationally reform our nation's immigration laws.

Last week, in a stunning move, Republican leaders decided they would rather sacrifice their corporate interest bill to limit class action lawsuits than allow a vote on AgJobs, broad bi-partisan legislation that would allow 500,000 farmworkers here now to earn the legal right to permanently stay in this country by continuing to work in agricultural

Undocumented farmworkers take the hardest, most difficult jobs other American workers won't take, toiling every day in the hot sun and bitter cold to produce Americas Rich bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables sold at relatively cheap prices.

They work for the minimum wage and pay taxes but enjoy few, if any, benefits while performing some of the most important labor in our nation; feeding America and much of the world. American agriculture cannot survive without them.

The agricultural industry wants a legal and stable work force. Undocumented farm workers who are here now want to earn the permanent legal right to stay in this country by continuing to make their crucial contribution to America's economy.

AgJobs has 63 senate co-sponsors and more than 400 organizations supporting it, from employer and labor to immigrant rights and religious groups.

In a speech delivered via satellite last Thursday to the LULAC convention in San Antonio, President Bush declared that "America is a nation of open doors, and we want it to remain that way. Immigrants bring great strength", the President added. "For this administration, el sueno Americano es para todos (the Ameican dream is for everyone) and we all deserve a chance at the American dream."

Yet at the same time President Bush was voicing those nice word to LULAC and speaking about the need to for immigration reform, he did nothing to help us get a vote on the historic AgJobs bill. With the AgJobs bill on the senate floor, last week was the first time during the Bush presidency that the Republican could have done more than just say the right thing. It was the first time they could have matched their rhetoric with action by enthusiastically supporting the AgJobs measure, which is also supported by many Republican Senators.

But while President Bush was addressing the LULAC convention, his ally, Senate Republican leader Frist, was working to prevent undocumented farm workers from earning a path to citizenship.

Well, because we are organized, last week we showed the powers that control the U.S. Senate that we are a force that cannot be ignored. Farm workers, the poorest and most abused working people in this country, along with their allies from the labor, Latino, and immigrant rights committee, demonstrated that we can no longer be disregarded. We stopped big business from being handed a victory at the expense of farm workers. And we will be back, with or without the support of this President.

The United Farm Workers has begun a national campaign to get Latinos and other supporters to e-mail President Bush urging him to support the AgJobs bill. Thousands have already done so. People can send their message to the President quickly, easily and for free by visiting the UFW'S web site, www.ufw.org.