Robert Samuelson on Guestworkers

In March, 2006, Robert J. Samuelson wrote a commentary in the Washington Post questioning the need for guestworkers.  The arguments coninue to be relevant to the immigration reform debate.  Click here to read Samuelson’s commentary.

One question that always has perplexed me.  Can the United States fashion a guestworker program that ensures the enforcement of wage and labor protections for the guests?  Given past experience, I am pessimistice.  The Bracero Program failed to protect the workers in important ways while employers were able to secure a ready supply of labor.

KJ