We got a migrant shortage

[wiffleball 4,797]

DENVER — Ever since passing what its Legislature promoted as the nation's toughest laws against illegal immigration last summer, Colorado has struggled with a labor shortage as migrants fled the state. This week, officials announced a novel solution: Use convicts as farmworkers.

 

The Department of Corrections hopes to launch a pilot program this month — thought to be the first of its kind — that would contract with more than a dozen farms to provide inmates who will pick melons, onions and peppers.

 

Crops were left to spoil in the fields after the passage of legislation that required state identification to get government services and allowed police to check suspects' immigration status.

 

"The reason this [program] started is to make sure the agricultural industry wouldn't go out of business," state Rep. Dorothy Butcher said. Her district includes Pueblo, near the farmland where the inmates will work.

 

Prisoners who are a low security risk may choose to work in the fields, earning 60 cents a day. They also are eligible for small bonuses.

 

The inmates will be watched by prison guards, who will be paid by the farms. The cost is subject to negotiation, but farmers say they expect to pay more for the inmate labor and its associated costs than for their traditional workers.

 

Advocates on both sides of the immigration debate said they were stunned by the proposal.

 

"If they can't get slaves from Mexico, they want them from the jails," said Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, which favors restrictions on immigration.

 

Ricardo Martinez of the Denver immigrant rights group Padres Unidos asked: "Are we going to pull in inmates to work in the service industry too? You won't have enough inmates — unless you start importing them from Texas."

 

Ever since the Democratic-controlled Legislature took a tough turn on immigration, the new requirements have worried those in the country legally and illegally.

 

Immigrant advocates allege that some sheriffs have authorized deputies to pull over Latino drivers on supposed speeding violations and ask them whether they are in the country legally.

 

And more stringent requirements put into effect last year made it harder to get a driver's license. Numerous U.S. citizens, including the daughter of a state legislator, were refused licenses because they lacked proper proof of citizenship. A judge has since ruled that the requirements must be revised.

 

Social service agencies say they have discovered few illegal immigrants on public assistance since the laws were passed.

 

Immigrant and business groups agree that the heated rhetoric has led to an exodus of Latinos — though no one is sure how many. Businesses including carwashes and construction firms have complained of a worker shortage.

 

"It's like, 'Don't go visit that house, there's a guy with a shotgun at the door,' " said state Rep. Rafael Gallegos, who represents a heavily Latino agricultural district in south-central Colorado. He voted against most of the legislation.

 

Colorado's experience shows that hard-line measures have an effect on illegal immigrants, Krikorian added, noting that arrests had dropped along the U.S.-Mexico border since security was increased last year.

 

"We're seeing enforcement work, not just in Colorado," he said, "but all over the country."

(edited for length - and short attention spans)

[Strike 6,030]

You should really post a link. As to the issue, I live in Colorado and I say "so what". Somehow the crops got picked before we had mass illegal immigration and they will get picked after. If there's really a problem and we need some type of "guest worker" program we can discuss that after we get rid of the illegals here now. And lastly, this may finally get the agriculture industry off their a$$es and force them to develop new technology like other industries have done so humans don't have to such tedious and menial work.

[wiffleball 4,797]

I'm just freakin amazed that enforcement works. Similarly, that it was the Dems that got this legislation passed. Apparently, the Reps are too busy taking ConAgra's money? Fock it, if this works, make it federal legistlation mandating it in all states as far as I'm concerned.