This story about the shortage of farm workers simply must be listened to.
According to the report, in Cochise county (AZ), farmers need to double their labor force to bring in the crops reliably each season. Cochise county begins not too far from where I live, and stretches down to the border with Mexico. They're bringing in undocumented workers so the harvests won't spoil, playing cat and mouse with the Border Patrol. This is a compelling argument why we should boost our immigration quota with Mexico dramatically; something I've felt strongly about for years.
Conditions, the story makes clear, are not so good for these workers. An "Anne Frank existence" of hidden living quarters and secret roads, living out their lives as a racial subclass right here in America. Sure, they probably wouldn't be here if it weren't an improvement, but the point is, it is terribly un-American that this situation should continue.
Here in the city of Tucson, it's obvious there is a similar (though not as severe) labor shortage. Within several miles of our house, there are numerous construction sites advertising "workers wanted". Throughout the city, "now hiring" is not uncommon at various retail or fast food places ( of course a high turnover rate is standard practice in that industry). In-fill continues all around, the exurbs are exploding; we're now the fastest growing state in the nation. It's high time we re-examined our absurdly low (if not outright racist) immigration policies.
