Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Border Security, Job Market Leave Farms Short of Workers

The United States efforts to increase border patrol are having harmful effects on many California fruit and other specialty farms. Many farms are running below capacity due to a lack or workers. They workers had typically come from immigrant labor. Washington lobbyists are pushing for a bill to allow immigrants already in the States that are working on farms to become permanent legal residents. This would help the farms be able to run at full capacity and increase supply. Because of the increased patrol many immigrants already here have taken other jobs. Many of the farm working immigrants worked season in the United States and returned to Mexico after the busy season; however, they are now staying in the U.S. and taking year round jobs. Due to other conditions, such as weather, farms in California are going to have a hard time keeping up with the demand this year running below capacity. With the new passing of the bill to build a 700 mile fence, how much more will the California farms be hurt?

No comments: