November 17,2014-
Washington GOP leaders may be incensed that President Barack Obama plans to issue an executive order in the next few days that could allow up to 5 million undocumented residents to gain some sort of legal status suspending some deportations.
But many California farmers are not ready to criticize yet. Some favor the idea if it helps them.
While GOP Congressman Devin Nunes of Tulare blasted the unilateral move along with many fellow Republicans saying “even before the new Congress is seated, he plans to dramatically change the immigration system by signing executive orders, apparently unconcerned that such brazen moves would severely damage efforts at bipartisan cooperation on immigration and many other issues.”
But California farmers have been waiting a long time for relief.
Not ready to knock it yet is Dennis Nuxoll, Washington, D.C.-based vice president of federal government affairs for Western Growers, Irvine, Calif. Nuxoll said recently that he wants to see the details of what President Obama may propose relating to immigrant farm workers before judging it.
Fresno County Farm Bureau chair Mark Sorenson says “I am not saying I am in favor of it or against it but we want to see reform where we can keep the workers who are already here and plan on having a workforce in the future.” Sorenson, who farms near Caruthers, says some 85% of the farmworkers on local farms were born elsewhere.
“We need something“ he adds.
“The GOP has failed to get it done. House speaker John Boehner promised us at the Fairgrounds in Fresno in 2013 he would get it done. But it never happened.”
Fresno farm leader Manuel Cunha,as usual,does not mince words.
“The GOP has failed to get it done. House speaker John Boehner promised us at the Fairgrounds in Fresno in 2013 he would get it done. But it never happened.”
Cunha says “the ag industry is frustrated by the lack of progress for the past 10 years. The GOP can’t blame the other party all the time. They controlled the presidency and both houses of congress in 2007 and didn’t do anything.” Cunha is the President of the Nisei Farmers League.
Cunha says if the Obama plan allows farmworkers here to stay – he would favor it.”If it only allows the dreamers to stay, that does not help us.”
“If the executive order allows farmworkers to stay under a work permit instead of full legal status – that’s OK.”
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He adds that a major problem now is the undocumented worker cant get healthcare benefits even though the pick the food we eat.”
In apparent agreement is a Sacramento Bee editorial from a few days ago.
“White House officials are debating whether to include protections for farmworkers who have entered the country illegally but have been employed for years in the agriculture industry, a move that could affect hundreds of thousands of people. It shouldn’t be a point of contention. The agricultural industry needs experienced hands.
Although the details remain to be unveiled, we do not see much of anything to quibble with. The people Obama wants to help are integral to the fabric and the economy of California and the Southwest. They should not be ignored.”
While GOP leaders claim Obama’s anticipated order would be illegal and may prompt calls for impeachment – both Ronald Reagan and George HW Bush offered amnesty to illegals in their time. Reagan’s move came in 1987. Bush extended amnesty before any legislation passed,although it did eventually.
Obama’s likely move needs legislation to make it permanent.