http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/ ... 117761.htm

Posted on Wed, Nov. 09, 2005

Manatee County targets illegal migrant farmworkers who drive

Officials probe undocumented farmworkers

REBECCA BLUE

Herald Staff Writer


EAST MANATEE - With no federal bill on the horizon to address the problem of undocumented farmworkers in the United States, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office is getting tough on unlicensed and uninsured drivers.

An estimated 18,000 farmworkers call Manatee County home, and farmworker activists and law enforcement officers alike know that a percentage of farmworkers entered the United States illegally.

As undocumented workers, they are unable to obtain medical insurance, bank accounts, and other important documents, such as driver's licenses, vehicle registrations and car insurance.

Rob Hendrickson, a deputy for the agricultural crime unit whose East Manatee territory includes Myakka City and Duette, has seen the problem firsthand.

"We see a lot of migrant farmworkers driving without a tag, insurance or driver's license. Some don't know; some just don't care," Hendrickson said.

"Those who are illegal aliens, they're so scared of being deported that they don't pursue the documentation," Hendrickson said.

Migrant farmworkers are responsible for a disproportionate share of moving vehicle violations, he said. When the season ends, so do a large amount of the violations.

A recent Associated Press review of Florida and federal records found transportation-related accidents were responsible for 83 fatalities among farmworkers and more than 400 injuries since 1992.

In the past, the unit issued warnings, giving workers a chance to obtain the legal documentation they needed. But deputies have started issuing criminal tickets, which require a court date and the towing of the vehicle.

"The warnings aren't helping. If I could get the point across with a warning, I'd be happy. But, they need to follow the rules like the rest of us. If they cause a wreck, you and I foot the bill. We follow the rules and they should too," Hendrickson said.

Marvin Mills, former chairman of the Sarasota-Manatee Farmworker Supporters, understands the problem but says the farmworkers have no alternative.

"This is a problem. On one hand, it's the forces of law and order. On the other hand, growers need to have workers, workers need jobs and consumers need products," Mills said.

Personal injury attorney C.J. Czaia agrees and is growing increasingly frustrated with what he calls "injustices."

"I am seeing more and more cases of people who would love to have this documentation, but can't get it. They don't have the basic rights of a citizen and the government and legislature consider them second-class people. It's getting out of control," Czaia said.

"The legislature just doesn't get it. These people aren't here to abuse the system. They are here to work. If the government can get a man on the moon, they will. They could seal off the borders but they won't. Who will work on these farms or clear land or perform construction demolition?" Czaia said.

Luz Corcuera, president of the Latino Community Network, said the employers of the undocumented workers are partially at fault.

"We are ignoring that we are hiring people who don't have proper documentation. We hire them because no one else wants to do the job. It's a problem to have someone driving illegally, but the bigger problem is that we use the fruits of their labor and we don't try to give them some sort of temporary document," Corcuera said.

Mills suggests some type of normalcy rules for undocumented workers should be laid down.

"They need to get to work. But, they can't because they're undocumented. If they try to get a driver's license, the first thing they are asked is if they are documented. If not, they won't give it to them," Mills said.