As a native-born Washingtonian, also having lived outside of our state for many years in both Mankato and Duluth, Minn., I can testify that farmers in the Midwest rely on, absolutely need and could not do without Mexican workers.
The phenomena that youth are moving off farms and going to the big city, leaving the farmland and agricultural world behind is well-documented, and those still living on the farms involved in the producing, raising, meat-packing industry of beef, poultry, pork, dairy and crops to feed this country absolutely need those Mexican workers to continue to be able to feed the United States.
I personally heard farmers complain when they saw the crackdown on the immigrant population, knowing how it would impact them and their farming operations.
If I am not mistaken, there is also much of the agriculture in California harvested by the migrant population, as my husband, a native Californian has told me.
This is not to say that we don’t have a problem with our immigration policies and they need to be revamped.
But I do think we have to consider long and hard the impact — the blowback, strident actions and negativity toward the immigrant population from the south of our border may ultimately have on our nation and I would suggest more measured initiatives be taken if we are to stay viable in the food belts of our nation.
Teresa Fane,
Sequim