Whiplash-Ag Labor Pt 1
From the Ag Information Network, this is today’s Fruit Grower Report. The Ag industry is suffering from a bad case of whiplash after the big back and forth on immigration enforcement on farms.
U.S. Representative Dan Newhouse says there have been some mixed signals from the White House in recent weeks …
NEWHOUSE … “We were kind of in a celebratory mood probably, last time we talked, because the President said all the right things about going after the bad guys, the drug dealers, the gang members, all those, and then leaving our agricultural workforce alone, and that was great.”
For at least a few days …
NEWHOUSE … “And then that kind of all changed just, what, three or four days after that announcement.”
Now, the Sunnyside Republican says we MAY be back where we need to be …
NEWHOUSE … “The President is repeating his support of guestworkers, people here doing jobs that are absolutely essential and the agriculture and other parts of the economy.”
Which leaves some, Newhouse says a bit bewildered …
NEWHOUSE … “It’s been a little confusing, absolutely has been. And I think there’s probably a little distrust out there on the part of workers and whether they should show up today or not because they’re exposing themselves. And that fear that you mentioned is real. The fear of deportations.”
Tune in tomorrow for more on this major case of whiplash when it comes to immigration reform for foreign guest workers and their employers.
