Vermont Delegation Backs Guest Worker Program For Farms

Critics Say Fed Crackdown 'Pretty Sad'

In the wake of surprise visits to dairy farms by federal immigration inspectors last week, Vermont's congressional delegation is voicing strong support for a new guest worker program for the beleaguered U.S. dairy industry.

Five Vermont farms were among hundreds nationwide receiving subpoenas to produce employee records for all farm laborers, including those from Mexico. The move has left many Vermont farmers on edge.

Several declined comment Monday, citing the sensitivity of the issue, but one farm family who recently quit the business says the timing of the crackdown couldn't be worse.

"I think it's pretty sad," said Judy Pillsbury of St. George. "Vermont desperately needs help and Hispanic employees are willing to come here and work as some of our Vermonters are not."

State Agriculture Secretary Roger Allbee said dairy farmers have employed immigrant laborers for the last eight to 10 years, despite a suspicion many of those workers carry false documents showing they're eligible to work in the U.S. He said farmers cannot verify the accuracy of every document, calling it a system born of necessity.

Farmers are simply desperate to hire workers to keep their dairy operations float, and get cows milked each day.

Allbee said it's become an open secret that farmers rely heavily on sometimes undocumented Mexican laborers who are often described as reliable and hardworking, and the only workers who will accept the seven-day-a-week, back-breaking job.

Many immigrants learn of available openings through word of mouth, or even Internet sites. Allbee estimates 2,000 Mexican laborers work -- and live -- on Vermont dairy farms.

Last week's crackdown by federal inspectors, on top of severe anxiety from record low milk prices, has industry analysts wondering how much more any farm operation can take, and Vermont's delegation is now backing a formal guest worker program for dairy.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) a frequent critic of guest worker programs, said the economic reality is persuasive. "There are areas, often in agriculture, where business people, in this case farmers, cannot find local labor," Sanders said. "If that's true and they need immigrant labor, then we have to make that legal."

Sen. Patrick Leahy and Rep. Peter Welch, the state's lone member of the U.S. House, agreed. "We need immigration reform that includes a strong guest worker program that makes it practical," Welch said Monday.

In the meantime, Allbee advises farmers to remain vigilant. "They need to make sure their I-9 forms and financial records are up to date, and need to make sure they're courteous when anyone shows up (from the Immigration office.)