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Mexican Agriculture workers

CattleArmy

Well-known member
Colorado considers recruiting farm workers from Mexico

By COLLEEN SLEVIN, Associated Press Writer





DENVER - Each year, when many people are finishing up their Christmas lists, Colorado rancher Angela Ryden starts wading through red tape so she can get two legal guest workers from Mexico to help her during calving season in March.

That’s the plan. Last year, even with the help of an employment agency, the two workers from Michoacan arrived a month late because of a paperwork problem. By then, half of Ryden’s calves had been born and three had died at her New Castle ranch on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains.



“It’s something every year and it seems like they change the rules all the time,” Ryden said of the federal H2-A visa program for farm workers.

Frustrated with the federal bureaucracy and Congress’ failure to pass immigration reform, two Colorado lawmakers have proposed taking over a large part of the application process and opening offices in Mexico to find people who can arrive in time to pick the state’s crops and run cattle. Arizona is considering setting up its own temporary worker program to help all kinds of businesses suffering labor shortages.

Colorado’s bipartisan bill essentially mirrors the federal H2-A program — including requirements that employers pay for food, housing and transportation and pay a set wage. But it puts the state in charge of recruiting and selecting workers.

Lawmakers see the first office possibly opening in Guadalajara, where Colorado already has an economic development office. The new office would give workers medical screenings and check to make sure they return home.


The change would require approval from the federal government, which isn’t commenting on the plan.

Supporters stress that it’s not a new path to U.S. citizenship or amnesty for undocumented immigrants. Workers who don’t return home on time would be punished by losing 20 percent of their pay, money which would be withheld by the state during their stay in Colorado.

Workers also would get state-issued identification cards, and police would have access to a cardholder database. Employers would have to notify law enforcement within 48 hours if a worker doesn’t show up for work or be fined.

Colorado would recruit 1,000 farm workers in the first year of the program and expand it to 5,000 workers by the fifth year — still short of the 9,000 temporary workers who are believed to be working on Colorado farms and ranches each year.
 

Steve

Well-known member
they could send a bus here and get a bunch of Mexicans.. (or hispanics if you prefer).. we have plenty.. no paperwork or fees required.. :roll:
 

schnurrbart

Well-known member
CattleArmy said:
Colorado considers recruiting farm workers from Mexico

By COLLEEN SLEVIN, Associated Press Writer





DENVER - Each year, when many people are finishing up their Christmas lists, Colorado rancher Angela Ryden starts wading through red tape so she can get two legal guest workers from Mexico to help her during calving season in March.

That’s the plan. Last year, even with the help of an employment agency, the two workers from Michoacan arrived a month late because of a paperwork problem. By then, half of Ryden’s calves had been born and three had died at her New Castle ranch on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains.



“It’s something every year and it seems like they change the rules all the time,” Ryden said of the federal H2-A visa program for farm workers.

Frustrated with the federal bureaucracy and Congress’ failure to pass immigration reform, two Colorado lawmakers have proposed taking over a large part of the application process and opening offices in Mexico to find people who can arrive in time to pick the state’s crops and run cattle. Arizona is considering setting up its own temporary worker program to help all kinds of businesses suffering labor shortages.

Colorado’s bipartisan bill essentially mirrors the federal H2-A program — including requirements that employers pay for food, housing and transportation and pay a set wage. But it puts the state in charge of recruiting and selecting workers.

Lawmakers see the first office possibly opening in Guadalajara, where Colorado already has an economic development office. The new office would give workers medical screenings and check to make sure they return home.


The change would require approval from the federal government, which isn’t commenting on the plan.

Supporters stress that it’s not a new path to U.S. citizenship or amnesty for undocumented immigrants. Workers who don’t return home on time would be punished by losing 20 percent of their pay, money which would be withheld by the state during their stay in Colorado.

Workers also would get state-issued identification cards, and police would have access to a cardholder database. Employers would have to notify law enforcement within 48 hours if a worker doesn’t show up for work or be fined.

Colorado would recruit 1,000 farm workers in the first year of the program and expand it to 5,000 workers by the fifth year — still short of the 9,000 temporary workers who are believed to be working on Colorado farms and ranches each year.

Why doesn't she just hire a couple of unemployed Americans?
 

Cal

Well-known member
schnurrbart said:
CattleArmy said:
Colorado considers recruiting farm workers from Mexico

By COLLEEN SLEVIN, Associated Press Writer





DENVER - Each year, when many people are finishing up their Christmas lists, Colorado rancher Angela Ryden starts wading through red tape so she can get two legal guest workers from Mexico to help her during calving season in March.

That’s the plan. Last year, even with the help of an employment agency, the two workers from Michoacan arrived a month late because of a paperwork problem. By then, half of Ryden’s calves had been born and three had died at her New Castle ranch on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains.



“It’s something every year and it seems like they change the rules all the time,” Ryden said of the federal H2-A visa program for farm workers.

Frustrated with the federal bureaucracy and Congress’ failure to pass immigration reform, two Colorado lawmakers have proposed taking over a large part of the application process and opening offices in Mexico to find people who can arrive in time to pick the state’s crops and run cattle. Arizona is considering setting up its own temporary worker program to help all kinds of businesses suffering labor shortages.

Colorado’s bipartisan bill essentially mirrors the federal H2-A program — including requirements that employers pay for food, housing and transportation and pay a set wage. But it puts the state in charge of recruiting and selecting workers.

Lawmakers see the first office possibly opening in Guadalajara, where Colorado already has an economic development office. The new office would give workers medical screenings and check to make sure they return home.


The change would require approval from the federal government, which isn’t commenting on the plan.

Supporters stress that it’s not a new path to U.S. citizenship or amnesty for undocumented immigrants. Workers who don’t return home on time would be punished by losing 20 percent of their pay, money which would be withheld by the state during their stay in Colorado.

Workers also would get state-issued identification cards, and police would have access to a cardholder database. Employers would have to notify law enforcement within 48 hours if a worker doesn’t show up for work or be fined.

Colorado would recruit 1,000 farm workers in the first year of the program and expand it to 5,000 workers by the fifth year — still short of the 9,000 temporary workers who are believed to be working on Colorado farms and ranches each year.

Why doesn't she just hire a couple of unemployed Americans?
Maybe if we actually do have a bad recession....that might not be as tough to do. But now, especially if you don't live somewhere that people are drawn too, good help is pretty rare.
 
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