San Benito County residents are among the hundreds of thousands
of people across the nation who vehemently oppose federal
legislation that would impose penalties on employers who hire
illegal immigrants and make helping them a crime.
Hollister – San Benito County residents are among the hundreds of thousands of people across the nation who vehemently oppose federal legislation that would impose penalties on employers who hire illegal immigrants and make helping them a crime.
On Sunday, about 30 people gathered on the corner of Fourth and San Benito Streets to speak out against the legislation, which was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in December. On Monday at least 50 Anzar High School students walked out of class to rally against the legislation.
Nallely Lopez, a senior at Anzar, said that she took part in the demonstration in front of the school to raise her voice for immigrants, such as the hundreds of migrant farm workers who work in the fields of San Benito County each year. Immigrants, whether documented or not, do the work that sustains the state and the nation, she said.
“Immigrants are working for America,” she said. “They are the ones who give us the food.”
Over the weekend Hundreds of people throughout the state and the country also held demonstrations to protest the controversial legislation, which would make it a felony to be in the U.S. illegally and erect fences along one-third of the U.S.-Mexican border. It would also put employers who hire illegal aliens and the people or groups who help them at risk of prison time. The U.S. Senate will begin debating the legislation today.
Mary Anne Hughes, director of San Benito County’s Community Pantry, called it, “the ugliest piece of legislation I’ve ever seen.” The Community Pantry supplies food to thousands of county residents each year. Hughes said pantry volunteers don’t check to see if somebody is in the U.S. legally before giving them food. The possibility of being sent to prison for feeding others is a concern, she said.
“I pray that it doesn’t get through the senate. But if it does, it definitely can affect us,” Hughes said. “I’ve made it to this point without going to prison, and I’d hate to go to prison for feeding someone.”
Even if the legislation is passed, the pantry would not turn people away because they might be in the country illegally because, she said, compassion and humanity transcends the law.
“That law will not affect how we do business. That is: if someone is here, we will feed them.”
The owners of local ag businesses are also concerned about the legislation, saying that there is a labor shortage already and the threat of prison time for hiring illegal immigrants is unreasonable.
“It’s extremely, extremely unfair,” said county Supervisor Anthony Botelho, who is also a local apple orchardist. “It’s bad legislation not addressing the problem. It will be a hardship on ag and probably business in general. Hopefully it will see defeat.”
Botelho said that he thinks that a program allowing people to come to the U.S. legally for work needs to be created. Such a program would benefit the U.S. and immigrants alike, he said.
“We’ve got to get back to feeling a level of compassion,” Botelho said.
U.S. Congressman Sam Farr (D-Carmel), who represents San Benito County, was among the vast majority of Democrats in the House that voted against the legislation in December. He called it the “worst bill” he’s seen in 30 years in elected office.
“It’s designed to fan the flames of the hardcore right that the only way to solve the immigration problem is to round up 11 million people and deport them.”
Farr said that he thinks that there needs to be a “moderate” alternative, such as a guest worker program that would allow immigrants to work in the U.S. legally.
“We need to do something, but not do it all with penalties,” he said. “We need a few carrots around too.”
Luke Roney covers local government and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at [email protected]
