CHARLOTTE NEWS-OBSERVER February 4, 2006
Burr reassures farmers on migrant labor
Republican Sen. Richard Burr said Friday that the United States needs to secure its borders against illegal immigration -- but it also needs the millions of undocumented workers here now. Burr wants to find a way to allow them to stay and work legally, he said during an appearance at the annual meeting of the Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina. "We never want to entertain the idea of cutting off people that want to come here," Burr told the crowd. It was the message that farm country wanted to hear. Virtually every farm in North Carolina relies on seasonal migrant workers to tend and harvest crops. "The Mexican labor is basically what we've got right now, so we've got to protect it," said David Hinnant, a farmer from Kenly and president of the growers association. Some of those workers come into the country legally, through a federal program that allows temporary farmworkers from Mexico. But many farmers say that program is expensive and complicated to use. As a result, the vast majority of farmworkers work illegally. Burr said problems on the farm are just another sign that the country needs "comprehensive immigration reform." He warned that it won't be easy. The House of Representatives passed a border security bill in December calling for a crackdown on employers who use illegal workers. But it offered no solutions for the many industries, including farming, that rely heavily on those workers. The Senate likely will take up the bill in the spring. Burr said Congress probably won't work on creating a cheap and legal way to bring in foreign laborers until after it clamps down on illegal immigrants. "Most members of Congress agree that we need to secure our borders and we need an understandable policy for people who want to come to this country," Burr said. "We may look at separating the two issues and addressing them in a separate matter. That puts a tremendous strain on the individuals who need those workers today." Still, some farmers said they were encouraged that Burr addressed what is fast becoming the most important issue to their survival. "At least these guys in Washington are talking about it," said Keith Parrish, a Harnett County farmer and head of the National Tobacco Growers Association. "We need these workers. And if they can be made a profitable part of society and pay taxes, that's something we ought to look at."
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