Thread: Border Patrol's expanded operation irking farmers (WA.)

Border Patrol's expanded operation irking farmers

By Manuel Valdes
ASSOCIATED PRESS

12:19 a.m. October 15, 2008

SEATTLE – Expanded U.S. Border Patrol operations in Washington state have created friction between the agency and a farmers organization, underscoring the debate over immigration versus the labor needs of the state's agricultural industry.

The Washington Farm Bureau, which represents thousands of farmers across the state, is criticizing roadblocks the agency has set up in several counties, including some inland ones near agricultural areas. Farmers say they already have trouble finding enough workers and that the Border Patrol operations may scare off even more.

From apples to raspberries, Washington's multibillion-dollar agricultural industry is labor intensive, depending on tens of thousands of farm workers a year. Many farm workers in the United States are believed to be illegal immigrants, often using fake identification documents to gain employment.
“We're very unhappy with the feds,â€

What crap, if their orchards have not picked by now, they are going to lose or have already lost their crops anyway....HELLLOOOOO it has already droped below freezing in the north west....there is nothing left to pick

[quote]“We're very unhappy with the feds,â€

Great points, Havoc. I would have no problem going out and picking apples were I unemployed on that coast. Instead I am unemployed on this coast, but I wouldn't mind going out and picking apples here.