One visitor proposes sending undocumented migrant workers home

[received 9-4-02, posted 9-5-02]

Astonished is a mild way of saying what I felt last Sunday church. Previously, I had heard absolutely nothing about the issue with the Florida farm workers, Taco Bell, or Six Ls Packing Co. Anytime we are made aware of the misery of large groups of people I think that most of us want to somehow help or do something to make things better. But in this case I was also bothered because nothing was presented about company comments regarding this issue.

For the past couple of days I have done some research. As Christians, I believe that we should be concerned about the plight of these tomato pickers because their working conditions are bad and perhaps dangerous. In fact my brief investigation has shown me that there are many thousands of other similarly mistreated farm workers in Texas, California, Arizona, and other places where growers rely on cheap labor to help gather produce. But the other issue that also comes glaringly to the forefront is that every single one of the people put forward as poster boy examples of the deplorable conditions are illegal aliens in this country. In every case they left Mexico or some Central American country and literally fought their way into the US in order to claim these jobs.

I certainly do not condone the enslavement of people who may have been misled into what kind of job they could expect if and when they came to the US. Neither am I ready to completely look the other way at the promotion of illegal immigration. I truly believe that pushing the boycott as proposed is tacit endorsement of illegal immigration, and this problem has, and can again, cost the very lives of thousands of American citizens.

So here is what I advocate. Instead of just asking Taco Bell to pay a penny more per pound of tomatoes, let's call in the INS to clear out the undocumented aliens and send them back to their home countries. Shortly thereafter, Six Ls Packing Co., and every other company like them, will be forced into paying better wages to attract either US citizens to these jobs, or hire legal immigrants who have a legal status that will help better protect them in the workplace as well as other areas in the community.

Under my proposal, the price of each Chalupa will probably go up at least $1.00 instead of 1/4¢, but I personally will completely and fully support the action and the cost consequences. Foreign nationals should still be allowed to immigrate, but LEGALLY. If the existing laws are enforced, then the glut of labor won't be available to be mistreated by disreputable companies.

Simultaneously, where cases of what is essentially slave labor are uncovered, those perpetrators must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

So Ok, let's boycott Taco Bell, but let's ask for the right things. If successful, then we should also boycott Birdseye, Green Giant, and all of the other produce suppliers that exploit the same group of people in exactly the same way in other regions of the country.

Very Sincerely,

Arnold Dillon, Brentwood, TN
Member - East Brentwood Presbyterian Church

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