Comments about ‘Fear growing for migrant workers’

These people that hire migrant workers need to bring the wages up to minimum wage or they are also breaking the law, then pass the cost on to the consumer like all other industries do. They are encouraging illegal activities. The government needs to be more proactive in getting the work passes out. If private business operated the way the government does, they would be out of business. More governement services need to be turned over to the private sector not making more government entities.

"He said all that shows that "we need a guest-worker program that allows workers to legally enter the U.S. then return to their home country."

The H2A temporary farm worker program does exactly that. The farmer pays for transport in, housing or three square meals a day, workman’s comp, legal wage rate, daily transportation to the worksite and weekly transport to town, and transportation back to their home country.

The H2B program is similar but is oriented to seasonal non-agricultural work.

Mr. Parker obviously knows these programs exist since he talks about them in the interview. What is it exactly he wants that is not currently in the program?

Bravo to the people who wanted to help the migrant workers.

I welcome all the migrant workers who come here legally, Most are hard workers only seeking to improve their life and that of their family, and doing so legally.

If illegal immigrants are being scared away by the mere listing of their names (and that apparently from government records) then the real question is why did the government agencies not produce this list and start tracking down lawbreakers a long time ago?

I am all for helping Legal Workers, although they should be Unionized to help avoid exploitation, and to assure that their wages and living standards are acceptable. Then at the end of their Visa Time, I want them to go home. Unless they are legal Green Card Residents then they are more then welcome.

The ones that are No Legal and scared of getting caught, I want to be caught and deported, and not allowed back in, as a penalty for breaking our laws.

I think this is a good place to check for illegal’s, and make arrests accordingly. If you are legal, bring your papers and enjoy yourself.

If you are not legal then go home.

Unemployment is High Enough that if a fair wage is paid, then American Citizen Workers would come forward and be willing to do the work. A summer or two of Farm Work can pay for School or a Mission. This would be much better then playing video games and cruising Central on Friday and Saturday, hoping to get what you are Not Supposed to have.

Also if you mixed Workfare with Food Stamps and Welfare , then there would be No Problem.

They did it to either make some money off it or get it for other needs!

I think both sides of the issue are very fearful. We cannot expect government to protect it's citizens anymore. And it's questionable calling law enforcement. You don't know which side of the political issue he sits on.

Migrant workers here on worker visas have no reason to be fearful. They came here the right way. They are not illegal.

The H2A visa has worked quite well until April when Obama rewrote the laws and regulations. I honestly think his moves were motivated to discredit it, hoping to prop up the open border argument.

About legals, Try whites that do lousy work and steal from those that are needing help.
I would prefer to give them something rather than they steal it.
Utah has to many looky Loo's and no buyers.
They have to turn and twist every know, Not Buying anything, they still want to start it.
I am an Invalid, I don't need these people that waist my time and energy.
No respect for the price on the equiptment.
The idea they are owed a cheaper price.
What have they done for me?

There is a guest worker program in place and easy to use, but it's cheaper and more criminal to use illegal foreign nationals who can't be identified and the farmers don't have to pay any taxes or costs other than an under the table wage. Migrant workers get identified, illegal aliens are not identified, an incentive for tax fraud.

Herbert and our legislators need to make it criminal for business to hire illegal aliens and pay them under the table. All incomes of all illegal aliens must be reported to the IRS and state tax commission by all business, large or small even with one employee. Immigration may be controlled by federal ICE but the state can control business and their criminal activities related to illegal aliens being employed and violating federal labor laws.

They ought to be scared! They snuck into our country like thieves in the night. Enough of making illegal aliens feel comfortable and at home, only to bring the whole village here to benefit from our naive stupidity.

to Jagged1
You do know that not all businesses are required to pay minimum wage right? As with all things Government their are exceptions. I have worked for the exceptions in my younger years. I feel that if theses immigrants are illegal, then they have every right to "Live in Fear", and I have no problem with it. I agree DN Subscriber, that if the State had this information, then why did they not act on it? That seems criminal to me, if our own govnernment hids the information.

This H2A and H2B makes a lot of sense and takes the stress out of everyone. Most Latinos would really rather stay in their own country. This way they can come legally, leave their families at home, and return themselves when the work is done. This is the win win solution that we all need. Instead of being big bullies and kicking defenseless people around to bolster our own egos, we should back these programs and then we can take the role of kind, compassionate Americans that can feel good about themselves.

Illegal immigration put our family out of business. Every year since the mid 90's we lost a few that left the farm finding work in other trades. In 2005, with no fear of being caught for violating their guest worker visas, all three families left to find other work, living in the country illegally. We got tired of fighting a losing battle and sold the property.

There was a reason we have immigration laws. There was a reason they use to be enforced. Our governments lack of immigration enforcement is the biggest threat to our farmers and ranchers.

They need the laws and enforcement we had back in the 60's and 70's.

Ok.... here's the glaring question for me:

Why would they worry that the crackdown on illegals is going to affect the legal migrant workers? If anyone can answer me that, I've got a shiny new penny to give them.

Seriously, I think it is wonderful that they have something like this going on to help support the legal migrant workers. I would say the fact that it is keeping the illegal workers away is justification for generating that list of those 1300 illegal immigrants. If they want to benefit from programs such as these, go back home to Mexico and come back LEGALLY. Then you can enjoy everything America has to offer to those who are taking the legal steps to achieve them.

Lee, your article makes it seem as if something is wrong with their net pay for a minimum wage job. That is incorrect.

Their "take home" pay may be less than minimum wage because of payroll taxes. Even legal guest workers have to pay payroll taxes. $6.25 is about what you would net from a minimum wage job after payroll taxes.

The problem is "temporary" worker programs never are temporary and who pays for their medical expenses and their kids education while they are here? There is nothing to force them to go home, and once they get here they don't want to leave. That is why people are skeptical of these programs. You also have the Democrat factor added to the equation, they always want to find a way to turn them into voters.

Here's a solution to those that are waiting on illegal labor. Higher someone that is a citizen to do the work. Pay them wages on top of the table that is taxed.

That's all it boils down to. These people pay illegals under the table. Both avoid taxes and having to pay into social security and health care. Both benefit. Both say that they are necessary for us to survive.

It's like the drug dealers that want to legalize drugs. Because it's too hard on the users to have to go to jail. It's not fair to these people that they are prescribing medicine to.

One bright side to for this nation. One day it will collapse if we continue on the current path. Ultimately it will hurt those that push for these whacked out programs. Everyone else that can work for themselves will be just fine.

We don't need a guest worker program or 12,000,000 illegal immigrants. We need to send the illegals home and allow the work they have been doing to transition to Americans who are currently unemployed or collecting welfare. Lets face it. Those jobs could, should and would be done by Americans if the illegals weren't here. After a few years of transition, if there is a labor shortage, maybe then we can talk about some kind of sane, rational, regulated guest worker program of some kind.

When I was a boy farmers hired kids to harvest their vegetables and fruit. Child labor laws now deprive willing kids the opportunity to earn some decent money and learn the value of work.

We need a good guest worker program and we need real enforcement.

For enforcement we need two things:

1. Strong penalties for companies and people who hire illegal aliens (take the bait away). Offering a reward to anyone who turns in an employer who hires illegal aliens, and making illegal aliens eligible for the reward, would help.

2. Make it illegal to rent housing to people who are in the country illegally. The penalty: The land lord must refund 100% of their rent.

If these two things were done it would provide a financial incentive for illegal aliens to turn in their employers and landlords. It would end the symbiotic relationship that now exists where it is in the best interests of both to keep their mouths shut. No employer or landlord would risk it. It would also catch the visa over-stayers as well.

We need to treat these people fairly and they must obey our laws.

Get the illegals out of this state. Send them to California where they have already wrecked the economy!!

If you are a law abiding CITIZEN then you have nothing to fear. If you are an illegal alien you should fear. Fear your impending deportation!

Anyone who is deported should be implanted with a tracking device. If we detect that that person is within 1 mile of the border we should be vigilant and prepared to catch them reentering this sovereign nation.

You don't want a tracking device implanted in you? Then stop breaking our laws and go back to your country.

Citizenship and the ability to live and work in this nation is NOT a right, it is a privilege extended to those whom WE THE PEOPLE decide to extend them to.

You illegals have no right to take this privilege without OUR permission.

Politicians, do something and illegal immigration. Fix the borders ( BUILD a fence, mine the border, post guard towers on the north and southern borders)

Since we are on the topic lets expand the laws of this nation to make it mandatory for all citizens and legal aliens to carry their papers. Whenever a person is stopped , with probable cause, they must show their papers.