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Shortage of Immigrant Workers Alarms Growers in West
Farmworkers cross back into Mexico after working in San Luis, Ariz. Growers say they could be 32,000 short of those needed this winter.
(By Paul Connors -- Associated Press)
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In the fields, he said, "the pay is so low, the benefits nonexistent, the conditions so harsh, if you can, you do something else," Grossman said. "You save money and buy a tool belt and go into construction. Or you work at a hotel. Anything to escape the fields."
Growers and workers also said illegal workers have moved north because of increased enforcement of immigration laws along the Arizona and eastern California border with Mexico. Border Patrol arrests were up 41 percent between fiscal 2005 and 2004 near Yuma, Ariz., where lettuce is grown.
Workers and labor contractors have numerous stories about the Border Patrol targeting farmworkers.
"Over in Brawley I lost three crews to the Border Patrol," said Gilberto Lopez, a labor contractor who competes with Clunn to provide workers to local farms. "People hear about that and leave. They don't want to be harassed."
Border Patrol officials denied focusing on farmworkers.
"Our position is not to target agricultural workers specifically," said Michael Gramley, spokesman for the U.S. Border Patrol's Yuma sector. "Our target is any illegal aliens."
Yuma Mayor Larry Nelson, a Republican, said he once believed the border should be closed entirely. Responsibility for his community's economic health has changed his mind, he said.
"We have more jobs in America than we have workers," he said. "If you took every illegal out of the United States right now, you would shut down the food industry, the vast majority of the hotels and all the service industries. If you stop [immigration], this nation will come to a screeching halt."
Jon Vessey agreed. "Most people out there say, 'Let's close the borders. And then we'll just go down to Von's and get our vegetables,' " he said, referring to a supermarket chain. "Well, it doesn't work that way."
