Thread: Farm Workers Gain More Support for Immigration Reform

Farm Workers Gain More Support for Immigration Reform

Posted: March 25, 2009 08:29 AM CDT

Updated: March 25, 2009 08:44 AM CDT


SALINAS, Calif. - On any given day, there's about 100,000 farm workers in Monterey County working in the fields. The majority of them are undocumented workers. That's according the United Farm Workers Union. Now, they're rallying to push to legalize these undocumented workers.

More than 50 of them showed up at the Monterey County Board of Supervisor's meeting Tuesday to ask for the board's support and they received it. The board passed a resolution. Afterwards, they changed "Si se puede" or yes we can. This week, they also received support from Greenfield and Soledad City Councils.

Efren Barajas from the United Farm Workers Union says, many of these farm workers aren't being treated fairly because they don't have the right documents. They're raising the issue, since they think have a chance for immigration reform with President Barack Obama in office.

"We have a new President and he supports this issue," says Barajas. "We know the economy is big. He was in Los Angeles last week and talked about immigration reform. He's ready to push it and sign it once he gets it on his desk."

Before, immigration issues were placed on the back-burner, especially with the worsening economy. Also, many legislators still support the current immigration laws in place.

This week's rallies are not only for immigration reform, but the UFW says, it's also a march for peace when there's been a rise in violence in the county. On Wednesday, they will be in Gonzales with stops in Chualar and Salinas the rest of the week.

http://www.kcba.com/Global/story.asp?S=10067633

Where is ICE? Shouldn't they be there E-Verifying? Or better yet have the Employment Office go out and E-Verify all these Migrate farmers, immediately.