Policies create difficult paths to legal immigration (Fresno Bee)

[pinto]

Excellent, in-depth article about the guest worker program in the agriculture sector, legal / illegal immigration, the bureaucracy, the politics and perceptions of immigrant labor from a number of points of view ~ pinto

Policies create difficult paths to legal immigration

Friday, Nov. 19, 2010
By Chris Collins / The Fresno Bee

http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/11/19/2165397/restrictive-policies-block-paths.html#ixzz16bf3j3hD

A decade ago, Vernon ran his Tulare County farm without the help of illegal immigrants. He had plenty of legal workers to keep the packing shed humming, irrigate and harvest the 200 acres of peaches, plums and apricots, and tend to the stuffy, smelly chicken houses.

Today, two-thirds of Vernon's 100-plus seasonal workers are illegal immigrants. He's spent the last several years brushing up on his Spanish, learning one new word a day so he can communicate with his workers.

So what's changed? Vernon -- who agreed to talk openly only if identified by his first name -- blames the government: Restrictive immigration policies make it almost impossible for low-skilled immigrants to come here legally.

He said that amnesty for illegal immigrants a quarter-century ago gave farmers in the Central Valley plenty of legal workers. But they eventually got too old for field labor or moved on to better-paying jobs, such as construction work.

http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/11/19/2165397/restrictive-policies-block-paths.html#ixzz16bfFGmAX