Comedy Central host Stephen Colbert will be testifying before Congress on Friday about immigration during a hearing called "Protecting America's Harvest."
Colbert will be appearing with United Farm Workers (UFW) President Arturo S. Rodriguez before the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law. In August, the comedian spent a day working at a corn and vegetable farm in New York state after Rodriguez appeared on his show to discuss UFW's "Take Our Jobs" campaign.
The effort was intended to debunk the theory that undocumented immigrants are taking jobs away from American citizens and highlight the fact the nation's food supply is dependent on these farm workers. "Farm workers are ready to welcome citizens and legal residents who wish to replace them in the field," said the UFW site. "We will use our knowledge and staff to help connect the unemployed with farm employers."
According to a UFW press release, since the effort launched, "more than three million people have visited the campaign web site, www.takeourjobs.org. Of those visitors, 8,600 have expressed an interest in seeking employment as farm workers. Despite the numbers, only seven people have taken the UFW up on its offer to take a job in agriculture."
The "Take our Jobs" episode covering Colbert's day in the fields will air on "The Colbert Report" tonight, Sept. 22. It will also feature an interview with Rep. Zoe Lofregn (D-Calif.) on immigration reform. On Thursday, agricultural workers will be visiting congressional offices on Capitol Hill to lobby for the AgJOBS bill, which would grant undocumented farm workers currently in the United states the right to earn legal status by continuing to work in agriculture.
According to The Daily Caller, Colbert will be appearing "in character," and some Republicans are upset that he will be at the hearing because it may "make light of a serious issue."