TOPEKA – Facing pressure from large dairies and feedlots desperate for workers, Kansas Agriculture Secretary Dale Rodman is seeking a federal waiver that would allow companies to hire illegal immigrants.

Rodman has met several times with officials at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security about launching a pilot program in Kansas. The Topeka Capital-Journal reported that the idea is to place employers and undocumented immigrants in a special network organized by the state. It would give rise to a legal, straightforward manner of organizing existing immigrant labor.

So far Homeland Security has neither approved nor closed the door on the idea.

A coalition of business interests is preparing to tackle the issue in Topeka. Details are expected to emerge this week about a bill establishing the outline of a worker program.