Lack of Immigration Policy Hurts Growers, Threatens Food Supply

June 22, 2008
The Patriot-News, Harrisburg,PA

Central Pennsylvanians need look no farther than Adams County for a prime example of why a comprehensive immigration policy is needed.

And if the country doesn't soon get by the inaccurate sound-bite of "amnesty" to describe some sort of guest worker provision, midstaters will get an illustration even closer to home: their grocery bills.

A year has passed since the bill, one of the biggest bipartisan efforts in years, imploded just when it was on the verge of passage. Staunch opponents, notably right- wing talk radio and cable TV hosts, urged listeners to bombard members of Congress with phone calls, letters and e-mails. They succeeded in unnerving enough law makers to stymie the legislation's passage.

ince then, ef forts addressed at illegal immigration have been pretty much aimed at border security and cracking down on businesses hiring these workers. Those are both important steps, but they are only pieces of a much larger puzzle.

Patriot-News reporter Ford Turner visited the orchards and fruit farms of Adams County, where the use of migrants to pick fruit is crucial. His report quoted several growers as saying taking those steps absent any legalization program will lead to worker shortages that will pressure food prices.

"We have got a head-on collision coming here," said Dave Benner, president of El Visa Orchards.

Yet U.S. Rep. Todd Platts, a York County Republican whose district includes Adams County and part of Cumberland, says there is overwhelming opposition among his constituents for any legal status for illegal immigrants.

Not only is the rounding up and deportation of more than 12 million people a virtual impossibility, it would have negative ramifications for the economy. In addition, while critics note the strain on social programs, many illegals gain employment by obtaining forged Social Security cards, making their wages subject to payroll deductions.

In a separate report, reporters Barbara Miller, T.W. Burger and Dan Miller addressed another issue resulting from last year's failure to pass a comprehensive bill: limited work visas that are hurting the ability of technology companies to hire enough highly skilled workers.

Visa reform was included in the bill to give foreign graduates of U.S. universities more time in this country. Not only do these graduates fill a shortage for American companies, they usually are working in areas that lead to the hiring of more U.S. workers for support operations.

Of course, if they can't work in this country, they go to ones where they can and take those jobs with them.

When looked at in practical terms, finding an overall solution to the immigration issue is just as much about the future of the United States as it is the foreigners who want to live and work here.

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