Thread: Only 2 percent of illegal immigrants work in agriculture

Copyright 2007 San Francisco Chronicle
All Rights Reserved

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Illegal workers must go

Editor - I keep hoping for some balance from the media, but it just isn't happening. Once again, The Chronicle has glorified breaking the law and distorted the truth in the process (Editorial, "A war on state's economy," Aug. 19).

Reality check No. 1: Only 2 percent of illegal immigrants work in agriculture. The future of agriculture in California is in mechanization, not an endless stream of illegal workers who get free health care, free education for their kids, welfare and even subsidized mortgages.

Reality check No. 2: Poll after poll shows that a majority of Americans want immigration laws enforced and oppose amnesty for illegal immigrants. When given the choice between amnesty and attrition through enforcement, an overwhelming number of citizens support attrition through enforcement. In this scenario, the jobs and benefits magnets are removed and illegal immigrants return home on their own.

I have another question for the pollsters quoted in the "Voice of the West." Did you survey illegal immigrants or just California citizens? What a surprise it would be if illegal immigrants didn't want immigration laws enforced.

KEVIN McDONALD

Novato -- -- --

Editor - The Chronicle's foolish editorial on the Bush administration's war on employers ignores one basic fact: The American people want the immigration mess cleaned up. No one in the government has been more "open borders"-friendly than President Bush and his immigrant-friendly team. My solution? Go after the employers beginning with the grape growers. After all, we don't need wine.

www6.lexisnexis.com

Yea, they keep crying who will pick all the veggies and fruit for us...but only 2 percent are doing this anyway? What is the excuse now????
Yes, they have moved on to the jobs Americans will do... since WHEN did Americans not want construction, roofing, lawn care, house and business cleaning. These jobs sure seemed to get done BEFORE illegals came along, but now these are SOME of the jobs that Americans SUPPOSEDLY won't do!!!! Give us a break!!!!

Then they should look into where the rest of the illegals work. I know construction would be high on the list and so would restaraunts. It would also possibly explain why the restaraunts in Florida and California top the ones who have the most people getting sick from the food. There was an article about restaraunt acquired illnesses in the Sun Sentinel and it mentioned the worse states for it. The article also mentioned avoiding buffets and places that serve tacos.