Farmers Want Access to Immigrant Labor

Several hundred farmers from around the country—including more than a dozen from Florida — gathered outside the Capitol earlierthis month to protest an immigration law they say could kill the U.S.agriculture industry.

Standing before crates of oranges, broccoli, carrots and otherproduce, the farmers urged lawmakers to find ways of securing the country’sagriculture economy that is heavily dependent on immigrant workers.

The farmers said they understood the need to secure U.S. borders.At the same time, however, they urged lawmakers to consider a law enablingguest workers to come to the country and fill thousands of otherwise unwantedagricultural jobs.

“Without these workers, you wouldn’t have an industry,”said Walter Kates, of the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association. “Idon’t think people realize that Americans won’t take these jobs.”

The immigrant workers, Kates said, “are here to make money,not to get on welfare.”

Michael Bartos, of Consolidated Citrus in Fort Myers, agreed.

Bartos made the day-trip to Washington to attend the rally andmeet with Florida’s Sens. Mel Martinez, a Republican, and Bill Nelson, aDemocrat, to press the issue.

“I think there’s a very good chance we would not have enoughworkers to harvest our fruit and there wouldn’t be enough workers for the otherindustries, like construction and hospitality,” he said.

Sens. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., and Larry Craig, R-Idaho, who attendedthe rally, said they understood those concerns.

Both senators said they are working with their colleagues on acomprehensive immigration reform that would include a guest worker program. Thelegislation is currently being ironed out in the Judiciary Committee and isexpected to be taken up on the Senate floor later this month.

The House passed border security legislation last year butlawmakers were criticized for not including a guest worker provision.

The Senate seems more receptive to the idea, with President Bush’sblessing.

“It is about the border,” Martinez said. “It isalso about comprehensive reform. We need to ensure we don’t look just to theborder.

“For our economy, our food supply and fairness, it isessential that we address the needs of our agriculture industry,” Martinezadded.

Source: Scripps Howard NewsService, Mar. 16, 2006

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