In Search of Immigration Reform in the House
Both the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal had articles this weekend lamenting the lack of action in the House of Representatives on immigration reform.
The NYT piece focused on California farmers that are "increasingly fed up" with the inability to get a steady workforce for their crops. The article suggests at least some California farmers are becoming angry at Republicans over the issue.
"The tension is so high that the powerful Western Growers Association ... says many of its members may withhold contribution from Republicans in congressional races because of the party's stance against a comprehensive immigration overhaul."
The op-ed in the Wall Street Journal explains why Republican lawmakers can shrug their shoulders at some lost campaign funds from farmers. Ralph Reed of the Faith & Freedom Coalition and Russell Moore of the Southern Baptist Convention, write that Republicans seem confident about the midterm elections in the fall and don't trust the president so they are ignoring immigration reform. Reed and Moore explain that's a mistake. They call for reform measures, but no blanket amnesty or guarantee of citizenship for illegal immigrants. "Those who desire citizenship should take their place behind those who have begun that process. There should be no special pathway for those who entered the country illegally. Criminals need to be deported."
Reed and Moore also reflect a different mindset than the California farmer. The pair advocates for the U.S. to make it easier to bring in temporary skilled workers or an educated workforce, noting Canada brings in about 120,000 permanent and temporary workers under such as program, nearly twice the U.S. number.
Farmers who rely heavily on labor need just that though -- labor. They need people willing to break a sweat on a physically demanding job. A lot of farmers have had these workers on their farms but are now losing them because of tighter controls by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
There are people who have been employed for many years, if not decades, and are now turning to their employers saying, Look, I am undocumented, said Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., in the NYT piece. These are not just seasonal workers. These are people who have almost become part of the same family. Its a problem that has grown so big and so multigenerational, we can no longer ignore it.
Tom Nassif, president and CEO of Western Growers, said "there is going to be a very loud hue and cry from us in agriculture" if nothing is done.
New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/
Wall Street Journal: http://dld.bz/
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