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Bus where agricultural workers are transported Agricultural field where onions were cropped
(Taken by Lizzeth Malagón) (Taken by Jorge Fernández while working)
The article, “These U.S. industries can’t work without illegal immigrants”, by Mary Jo Dudley argues about the importance of the labor of immigrants. Agriculture has been one of the biggest industries that has helped illegal immigrants have jobs and have the opportunity to build a new future in the U.S. As stated in the article, “As of 2000 – the latest such data available – only 3 million work on farms, and as noted earlier, an estimated half are undocumented”(Dudley, 2019). Undocumented people are a major part in the agricultural industry, which also plays vital roles in the U.S. economy. Since the goal of immigrants when they cross the border illegally is to come and work in the U.S. they take any kind of job. Most undocumented in the south work in the agricultural industries since there are many jobs that some Americans don’t want to do. People may think that immigrants come to take away their jobs. The reality is that they are doing jobs other Americans don’t want to do. Many prefer to live from the US government money, instead of working for their own money. People that work in the agricultural industry may suffer from the hard work they have to do. For example, some have to wake up early to go to work in this industries, ride the bus with no air conditioning during the summer, work long hours, and don’t get much rest.
Immigrants are also hired by dairy industries to do jobs that U.S. citizens won’t do. According to the article, “Increasingly, dairy farms such as those in New York rely on workers from Mexico and Guatemala, many of whom are believed to be undocumented”(Dudley, 2019). Dairy industries can’t rely much on U.S. citizens because the job in a dairy is physically demanding, dirty and one of the most dangerous occupations. If the government would take out 50 percent of undocumented workers much of the industries would close. Also if immigrants were to be taken out of dairy industries there would be an increase on milk and less production. As stated in the article, “This has become of particular concern as immigration enforcement in agricultural communities intensifies” (Dudley, 2019). Various industries such as fruit, vegetables and meat industries are concern that the government could take out the undocumented workers. Although many only look at the things happening in the southern borders they don’t take into consideration that other undocumented workers also enter from other parts of the country. Undocumented workers have contributed much to our economy that they should be given the opportunity to apply for their visas without being deported to their country. If the government would give undocumented workers the opportunity, the country might be impacted with better finance and have better productions in industries.