On Tuesday, Representative Luis Gutierrez introduced a new comprehensive immigration reform bill. Included in his legislation is AgJobs, a bipartisan, broadly supported farm worker immigration measure negotiated by the United Farm Workers and leaders of the nation’s agricultural employers. It would allow undocumented farm workers to earn the legal right to permanently stay in this country by continuing to work in agriculture.
Since the early 1970s the United Farm Workers was one of the first unions opposing sanctions on employers and embracing a process to let undocumented farm workers “legalize” their immigration status. We are convinced this nation can no longer continue to ignore the millions of undocumented immigrants who work, live and contribute to this great nation.
To those who argue we shouldn’t in any way cooperate with or grant any consideration to hard-working, tax-paying undocumented immigrants, that they are criminals and trespassers, we say that they should be consistent: They should stop buying most fresh fruits and vegetables since they come to you through the skill and toil of undocumented farm workers? Then they should stop purchasing many manufactured and processed products that are produced by undocumented immigrants. Then they should stop patronizing many hotels and restaurants that operate largely thanks to the labor of undocumented workers.
According to the federal government, more than 50 percent of U.S. farm workers are undocumented. Our union’s experience in the states where we are active is that the reality is more like 80 or 90 percent of the work force is undocumented. If all undocumented farm workers are deported, it would mean the collapse of the agricultural industry as we know it.
American consumers are accustomed to the greatest abundance of the best quality fresh fruits and vegetables in the world at relatively inexpensive prices. Such plenty comes from the hands of undocumented immigrants.
The question is not whether they will remain in this country. America’s economy—and American agriculture—cannot survive without them. The question is whether these workers will continue living in fear and be denied a voice in the country that relies so heavily on their contributions and sacrifice.