Hollister
– In the wake of a nationwide crackdown on illegal immigrants,
local farmers and ranchers are double-checking their employment
records and worrying the crackdown will further exacerbate an
already dire labor shortage in the agricultural industry.
Hollister – In the wake of a nationwide crackdown on illegal immigrants, local farmers and ranchers are double-checking their employment records and worrying the crackdown will further exacerbate an already dire labor shortage in the agricultural industry.
The number of the illegal immigrants in San Benito County is unclear, but U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials estimate the number nationwide is between 8 and 10 million. Local farmers and ranchers have been careful to keep detailed employment records, but said they have no way to check for forged citizenship documents.
“We probably have some illegals. They are the only ones who want to do the work,” said Agriculture Commissioner Paul Matulich. “Farmers are going to have a real hard time harvesting this season unless we get an immigration plan that works.”
While most farmers are cautious about hiring undocumented workers, Matulich said the recent sweep and media coverage could encourage many to be ever-more vigilant.
Immigration agents arrested seven executives and 1,187 employees in 26 states of a manufacturer of crates and pallets Wednesday as part of a crackdown on employers of illegal workers. Authorities raided offices and plants of IFCO Systems in at least nine states, the culmination of a yearlong criminal investigation, law enforcement officials said. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested seven current and former IFCO Systems managers on charges they conspired to transport, harbor and encourage illegal workers to reside in the United States for commercial advantage and private financial gain, said Glenn T. Suddaby, the chief federal prosecutor in Albany, N.Y., where some arrests were made. Raids took place at several locations in upstate New York and in Biglerville, Pa., Charlotte, N.C., Cincinnati, Houston, Indianapolis, Phoenix, Richmond, Va., and Westborough, Mass. Arrests were also made in Bakersfield and San Bernardino, though only a handful of illegal immigrants were detained in the state.
San Benito County apple grower and County Supervisor Anthony Botelho said the problem was verifying the records.
“The people I hire all have immigration cards and social security numbers. Are they fake? I don’t know,” he said. “There needs to be a program that allows workers to cross the border, work, and then go back with as little pain as possible.”
ICE Spokeswoman Virginia Kice said free, voluntary programs were available through U.S. Customs and Immigration Services to verify records. But employers, she said, are only prosecuted if they knowingly hire illegal immigrants. Although farmers commonly complain that using the services take too much time, Kice said the programs can help business owners prevent disasters.
“It helps to verify so that you won’t be subject to enforcement actions that could halt work,” Kice said. “It’s just good business sense if don’t want half your employees taken off in one day.”
Ramiro Rodriguez, owner of Hollister-based contractor R & R Labor, said labor shortages were eminent this season, despite a temporary surplus of workers. The surplus, he said, was the result of wet weather making field work nearly impossible. Rodriguez said his company has always been careful about checking the immigration status of its workers. But even checking records doesn’t always help.
“By the time we get word back on documents from the ICE, the employee is usually gone. It can sometimes take up to six months,” he said. “And we can go through 2,000 workers a year.”
Botelho, co-owner of B&P Orchards, said immigration agents have never checked his records.
“They haven’t ever been here,” he said. “But I maintain good records in case they come to check tomorrow.”
Kice said Wednesday’s raid was part of an on-going investigation. Similar investigations are underway throughout California, she said.
“There are employers out there who are turning a blind eye to illegal immigration,” she said. “And we have a lot of worksite investigations already in progress.”
Undersheriff Pat Turturici said local law enforcement agencies don’t have the time or resources to deal with illegal immigrants. Turturici also said the Sheriff’s department has not received a single complaint regarding illegal immigrants.
“We don’t call immigration, they do their own thing,” he said. “We don’t enforce it.”
