One of the arguments made against accepting illegal immigrants in the U.S. is that they are taking the jobs of American citizens. Those arguing against that line of thinking have always maintained that many of the jobs being taken are those that Americans are unwilling to do. Based on evidence from states on the coasts, Georgia and Washington, the latter view may be correct.
Georgia Governor Nathan Deal was criticized after speaking at a Georgia Farm Bureau luncheon in February for not seeking changes to that state's strict anti-illegal immigration law, which has reduced the numbers of people working in the fields. Jobs left open by illegal immigrants have not been filled by others who may legally work in Georgia.
"I don't know if it is one of those issues that he thinks has gone away and is no longer important," Gary Paulk, a farmer who served as campaign chairman for Mr. Deal in Irwin County, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I know the issue has not gone away. ... It's an issue for farmers — they are not going to be able to have enough help."
In Washington, it's a similar story. According to The Seattle Times, asparagus farmers left about 10 percent of this year's crop in the field because of a worker shortage. An even larger number of workers will be needed to bring in the state's cherry crop, which is looking at a record harvest.
"I think we are all terrified," B.J. Thurlby, president of the Washington State Fruit Commission and Northwest Cherry Growers, told the Times.
The picture on illegal immigration became a bit muddier yesterday as the Supreme Court overturned all but one provision of Arizona's strict anti-immigration law. That lone provision, which allows police officers to check a person's documentation, may be contested once it takes effect.
Following the ruling, the Department of Homeland Security decided to discontinue a program that deputizes local officials to make immigration-related arrests. The federal government said the program was "not useful" in states with similar laws to Arizona.
The federal government has deported record numbers of illegal aliens since President Obama came into office.
- Deal: No plans to change immigration law - Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- Growers Need More Workers To Harvest Vidalia Onions - WXIA-TV/Georgia Farm Bureau
- Plenty of asparagus, few workers to pick it - The Seattle Times
- States face uphill climb on immigration enforcement after court ruling, DHS shift - Fox News
- Report: Deportations hit record number - Politico