Immigrant Daily

Farmers Hurt by Immigration Raids

A compelling article on the impact of the immigration crackdown on NY farmer was published in today’s Business Week.

Interesting facts:

• Farmers hire workers for about 3 million agricultural jobs each year, but only one-quarter of that workforce is legally authorized .
• Farm advocates say that immigrant workers are allowing U.S. farmers to compete in a fierce global marketplace, and that losing the workforce means losing domestic sources of food. “The choice is simple: Do we want to import workers or import food?” says Craig Regelbrugge, co-chair of the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform.

The article goes on to point out one aspect of domestic agriculture that is often overlooked – the issue of safe domestic food supply. The article argues that food security cannot be overlooked, because a nation needs to ensure that it has a domestic food supply – a nation without its own food supply is a weak nation. In order to ensure that we continue to have such a food supply, we must have an available workforce. This means that we need to have more available visas for agricultural workers from Mexico and other countries.

The NY farmer profiled in the article is doing something about it.

While some employers of immigrants fear the limelight, the 55-year-old Torrey is unabashedly vocal in her opposition to the government’s proposed crackdown. She set up the Web site www.saveUSFarms.org, which allows farmers to sign a petition and make donations in support of the AgJobs bill (S. 1645/ H.R. 3142). She also testified before Congress on the issue. The bill, currently being debated in Congress, would streamline the H-2A farm worker visa program and also allow workers a path to permanent resident status.

The article is just another reminder why we need the influx of immigrants. It is not about feeling bad for people who seek better life, it is not a bleeding heart liberal issue. This is an issue of our economy, security and continuing success as a nation. So long as United States continues to be a beacon of freedom and prosperity in the world, our country will prosper. When that light goes out and we turn into a xenophobic nation, our economy, world image, and our immigrant soul will also dim.

You can read the full article here.