Farmworker plan attacked by all sides
WHITE HOUSE WOULD MAKE MORE VISAS AVAILABLE
Javier Erik Olvera

A broad range of activists - from opponents of illegal immigration to farmworker rights advocates - are questioning a new Bush administration proposal aimed at making it easier for farmers to legally recruit laborers from other countries.

And even the farmers themselves have problems with the proposal.

A global campaign is under way to stop the proposal, the latest attempt to crack down on illegal immigration in the wake of Congress’ failure last summer to approve an immigration bill.

Opponents fear some farmers - attracted to the potential cost savings outlined in the proposal - may abuse the system as well as mistreat foreign workers, who they say would be at the farmers’ mercy or risk deportation.

“We are doing the best we can to sound the alarms that this is a really bad proposal that needs to be stopped,â€