Scare Tactics

When in doubt advocates of illegal immigration employ "scare tactics."

These usually entail ideas such as "crops will rot in the fields" or "no one will do these jobs." This article is interesting as at the very end they belie the whole argument.

Effects of Crackdown on Illegals

LYONS, Ga. (AP) -- Every spring, farmer Paul Gore hires about 175 workers to harvest his Vidalia onion crop. Almost all of them are migrants, most from Mexico -- but how many are in the U.S. legally, Gore admits he's not really sure.

"A guy comes to your office and brings his Social Security and his Green Card, it figures he's legal," Gore said Wednesday. "But I don't know if it's real or not."

As Georgia lawmakers consider proposals to crack down on illegal immigration, and tougher federal standards loom, growers of Georgia's prized Vidalia onion and other crops worry that tougher enforcement could dry up their labor pools.

About 55 farmers and other agricultural employers gathered Wednesday for a U.S. Department of Labor seminar on migrant worker issues. They said they're making extra effort to follow the letter of the law.

The problem is illegal workers easily slip through the cracks using fake Green Cards and other forged documents -- and the farmers need those migrants to stay in business.

"The bottom line is if we don't have migrant labor available to us, we won't be able to harvest our crops," said Ronnie Mcleod, who grows Vidalias, corn and soybean on 1,000 acres in Tattnall County. "We'd be out of business without the migrant help."

Okay, to recap. No illegals, no crops, seems straight forward enough, yes?

Not so fast Kimosabe.

Anticipating a crackdown, a number of farmers said they're considering enrollment in a government program where workers in Mexico get a special visa to work for a single employer, with a strict contract guaranteeing their wages and limiting how long they can work in the U.S.

It's more costly, requiring employers have to pay higher wages than the $5.15-an-hour minimum wage. Alex Cornelius, a blueberry farmer from Maynor, said he's looking into the visa program to avoid any potential trouble with illegal workers. But that would also mean raising the price of his crop.

"You need a higher return -- that's the bottom line," he said. "You're going to have to sell your produce for more money."

So to be perfectly clear. A legal means exists right now that is being soundly ignored?

Does anyone think this bodes well for a "guest worker" program?

Also, does anyone have the nuts to leave a comment on this blog that they won't pay a little more for produce if it means fair pay and treatment for these folks?

H/T Beyond Borders Blog

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