Source:  POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 5/2/22

Top Democrats who have been working to land some sort of deal on immigration policy are beginning to acknowledge that a breakthrough is all but impossible ahead of November’s midterms, report POLITICO’s Marianne LeVine, Sarah Ferris and Laura Barrón-López.

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), a lead sponsor of Biden’s signature immigration bill that would provide a pathway to legalization for farmworkers and enact a slew of workplace reforms in agriculture, told POLITICO that the chances of passing a comprehensive immigration overhaul are “zero.”

Still, bipartisan talks continue: A handful of senators in both parties met last week about a potential immigration package, though participants warned the discussions are in early stages. Among the potential bipartisan bills that could move are reforms for immigrant farmworkers.

Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) and Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.) held a press conference on the Capitol lawn last week to encourage senators to pass the House’s bipartisan Farm Work Force Modernization Act. The bill would provide a pathway to legalization for farmworkers and expand access to H-2A visas for producers. It’s also backed by many rural Republicans.

“Urgency in the Senate is growing, I think a lot of people understand the need to get this done,” Newhouse told your host, adding that he had recently spoken with Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo, a potential GOP co-sponsor. Crapo and Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) are still working towards introducing a Senate version of FWMA, sources familiar with Senate talks told your host.

But, but, but: That’s been the state of play for nearly a year. Republicans are almost guaranteed to insist that border policy changes get added to any legislation moving through the chamber