Rotting Crops and Cottage Ladder Industry Trumps the Day
Mary Anne Simpson
March 15, 2007
The Denver Post reports some tough days ahead for the proposed 700 mile fence along the Southern border of the United States with Mexico. Apparently a new cottage industry has been developed South of the border knocking out re-bar ladders sold on the open market for $5.
The ladders provide a quick hop and a jump over the 10 foot snake like fences currently in existence along the border. The re-bar ladders are convenient and boast portability for illegals making a break for the promise land in the U.S.
This story comes on the heals of a Los Angeles Time story on March 1, wherein it reported the plan by Colorado legislators to provide convict labor to supplement their loss of guest workers who heretofore worked the perishable agriculture industry. The plan to use convict labor has its critics among concerned citizens and labor groups.
Apparently the necessity came about due to concerns expressed by the farming community that crops were left rotting in the fields last year due to Colorado's tough stance on undocumented workers. This year the farming community wants assurances they will have available agricultural workers before they are willing to plant.
State Representative, Dorothy Butcher of the Pueblo area of Colorado is quoted by the L.A. Times as saying, " The reason this program is started is to make sure the agricultural industry wouldn't go out of business. " Only low risk inmates will be used under supervision and will make even less than the migratory workers made. Some in the vicinity of the field have raised safety concerns and farmers are not happy with the solution, but have a severe need.
Ricardo Martinez an advocate for immigrant rights group, Padres Unidos is quoted as saying, " Are you going to pull in inmates to work in the service industry too?"
It appears the ingenuity of those wanting in has put a crimp in Home Land Security. It also appears there are inherent problems in not having a plan for dealing with the necessity of an agricultural labor force.
The ladders provide a quick hop and a jump over the 10 foot snake like fences currently in existence along the border. The re-bar ladders are convenient and boast portability for illegals making a break for the promise land in the U.S.
This story comes on the heals of a Los Angeles Time story on March 1, wherein it reported the plan by Colorado legislators to provide convict labor to supplement their loss of guest workers who heretofore worked the perishable agriculture industry. The plan to use convict labor has its critics among concerned citizens and labor groups.
Apparently the necessity came about due to concerns expressed by the farming community that crops were left rotting in the fields last year due to Colorado's tough stance on undocumented workers. This year the farming community wants assurances they will have available agricultural workers before they are willing to plant.
State Representative, Dorothy Butcher of the Pueblo area of Colorado is quoted by the L.A. Times as saying, " The reason this program is started is to make sure the agricultural industry wouldn't go out of business. " Only low risk inmates will be used under supervision and will make even less than the migratory workers made. Some in the vicinity of the field have raised safety concerns and farmers are not happy with the solution, but have a severe need.
Ricardo Martinez an advocate for immigrant rights group, Padres Unidos is quoted as saying, " Are you going to pull in inmates to work in the service industry too?"
It appears the ingenuity of those wanting in has put a crimp in Home Land Security. It also appears there are inherent problems in not having a plan for dealing with the necessity of an agricultural labor force.
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