Immigration defeat threatens N.C. crops
Aug 16, 2007—With the collapse this week of the immigration bill in the U.S. Senate, some farmers in North Carolina -and across the country - say they are angry and weary of waiting for help from Washington, according to a report in the Raleigh News and Observer. Farms across the state couldn't find enough workers last fall, and farmers say the problem could escalate this year. Enforcement raids have increased the cost to immigrants of sneaking over the border and discouraged many from coming. Some worry that North Carolina will end up like California, where portions of last fall's crops rotted in the fields and ripe fruit fell from the trees because workers didn't come to pick them. If the Senate doesn't return with a plan by Labor Day, the chances for reform would be on hold as politicians work on their re-election prospects -- meaning at least two more growing seasons with no fix. Without workers, farmers fear the worst.
Aug 16, 2007—With the collapse this week of the immigration bill in the U.S. Senate, some farmers in North Carolina -and across the country - say they are angry and weary of waiting for help from Washington, according to a report in the Raleigh News and Observer. Farms across the state couldn't find enough workers last fall, and farmers say the problem could escalate this year. Enforcement raids have increased the cost to immigrants of sneaking over the border and discouraged many from coming. Some worry that North Carolina will end up like California, where portions of last fall's crops rotted in the fields and ripe fruit fell from the trees because workers didn't come to pick them. If the Senate doesn't return with a plan by Labor Day, the chances for reform would be on hold as politicians work on their re-election prospects -- meaning at least two more growing seasons with no fix. Without workers, farmers fear the worst.
