ICE and Ag Labor Pt 2
From the Ag Information Network, this is today’s Fruit Grower Report. The agricultural industry is waiting to see what the President’s plan looks like to stop ICE raids on farms and other industries reliant on migrant labor.
U.S. Representative Dan Newhouse says he hopes people aren’t confusing these workers with the real bad guys …
NEWHOUSE … “I don’t know that that’s been the case, at least I hope not. They are two separate things in my eyes. A lot of these people working our farms have been there for years if not decades, family situations that people have come back to farms year after year.”
And the President’s order, Newhouse says should help clear things up …
NEWHOUSE … “I think this provides us a huge opportunity to make some real positive changes in the laws surrounding some of our worker visa programs. It points out the necessity for providing people who we depend on, who we need ways to become right with the law so they can have legal presence in this country.”
Newhouse says support from cabinet members should really help …
NEWHOUSE … “I’ve got commitments from Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Labor, Ms. Chaves-De Remer. We’ve got people working hard on these issues from an administrative standpoint and the fact that the President is saying some of the same things that I’ve been saying for the last couple of months makes me think that our message is getting through.”
Newhouse says he’s looking at this as a “glass half full”
situation with a big opportunity.
