If it would cost only a few more pennies more for a head of lettuce or another dime for a pound of tomatoes to forbid the employment of immigrant farm workers, it might not be a bad idea. In fact of the matter, it would cost a hell of a lot more than pennies and dimes. The cure would be much worse than the sickness. Temporary farm workers are worth billions of dollars to the American economy.
As far as agriculture is concerned, American workers simply will not do this grunt work. Farmers have raised wages to the limit the market will tolerate. They have attempted formal recruiting efforts in cities. They have offered housing and transportation, even basic medical care. But few Americans are willing to accept work performed out of doors, rain or shine.
If migrant workers are banned, instead of tomatoes from Florida, we would have tomate from Mexico; in place of meat from Wyoming there would be carne from Argentina; and rather than rice from Louisiana the market would offer Pad Thai from Thailand and Vietnam. The only affordable shellfish and winter vegetables would come from Asia, to say nothing of blueberries from Turkey. Some of those foods already come from abroad – but without immigrant farm labor, that word “some” would soon change to “all.”
In 1960, half of all American men in the labor force performed unskilled outdoor jobs, particularly in agriculture and construction. Today, fewer than 10 percent are so inclined. But that’s where the jobs are – that’s where labor is needed. The “service sector” (90 percent of which is unskilled) has been the fastest- growing category within the American economy for more than two decades. Unskilled immigrants fill service-sector niches that would otherwise go empty. How could politicians find waiters and busboys for their fundraising venues? Where would Donald Trump locate someone to clean his jet? Which volunteers would give massages to overstressed bond traders? What workers would clean the $100 seats at the Patriots games? Who would sew Lady Gaga’s costumes? When could hotel maids be found to do battle with aggressive French politicians?
And these losses would be only the tip of the iceberg. Supporting jobs would be also lost – this time for native-born Americans. As the bottom of the work pyramid, farm workers support more – many more – desirable jobs further up the work chain, including foremen, sales people, middle management, transportation, mechanics, accountants, chefs, caterers, farm machinery.
Other than some fetid politicians who might promote themselves with fear and rank prejudice, no one in America would benefit from expelling immigrant farm workers
Other than farm and service labor, which is largely seasonal, skilled, long-term, undocumented immigrants are performing valuable functions and are fully integrated into the economy. In all, about 9.5 million people live in “mixed status” families that include American citizens and unauthorized immigrants.
The act of identifying, arresting and forcibly deporting the millions of permanent immigrants that are undocumented would not only cost billions and balloon the already obscenely overblown Homeland Security apparatus, it also would require the exercise of arbitrary police power abhorrent to Americans. Plus, we’re talking damage to the economy beyond Al Qaeda’s fondest dreams.
Other than a few Passamaquoddys, there is hardly a citizen in Maine who does not come from a recent immigrant family. Immigration has been the fresh blood supply of America ever since the first Indian came across the Bering Strait and meandered on across and down to the clam flats of Maine.
As an outstanding example of a productive, valuable citizen, our governor is only a few years removed from immigrant status. If he and his parents had been forced to rejoin the other “undesirable” Frere Jacques in the land of the maple leaf, lo, these long years ago, Maine would quite possibly have a “damn Democrat” for governor.
The defense rests.
Devil’s Dictionary: Cowboy: In common use; an urban redneck who drives a pickup recklessly while wearing western garb.
Rodney Quinn, a former Maine secretary of state and university history and government instructor, lives in Westbrook. He can be reached at rquinn@maine.rr.com.
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