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Category Archives: Immigration

Tobacco: Top User of Agriculture Guest Worker (H-2A) Visa Program

18 Monday Jan 2016

Posted by Belinda Silva in Food Security and Safety, Government, Immigration, Uncategorized

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Food, Government, Guest Worker, Immigration, Tobacco, USDA

With the run up to the 2016 presidential election, we have seen a growing debate on the need for border security versus the shortage of agriculture workers. Tales of apples rotting on trees and produce left in the field are offered as evidence of jobs Americans won’t do. Yet, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Foreign Labor Certification program, we have a record number of guest worker visa holders. In agriculture alone, the number of H-2A visa holders has risen nearly 35% in the past decade.

Visa Certifications

Considering the increase of H-2A visa holders, how is it those who grow our food are struggling to bring in their crops? Where are all the workers? Well, according to DOL reports, a majority are harvesting tobacco, working in landscape nurseries, and operating equipment. Annual reports show the tobacco industry is consistently the largest single sector employer of agriculture guest worker visa holders. In fact, a tobacco trade organization, the North Carolina Growers Association (NCGA), touts itself as the nation’s largest user of the H-2A agricultural “guest worker” program. And, though the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports a steady decline in U.S. smokers, the industry is experiencing a growth in acres planted and yields.Visa Top 10

The resurgence comes after an initial dramatic decline in tobacco farming following the implementation of the Fair and Equitable Tobacco Reform Act of 2004 (FETRA). That legislation ended nearly 70 years of farm subsidies and marketing quotas. Then, beginning with the following year (2005), the feds stepped in with the Tobacco Transition Payment Program (TTPP). A program that paid nearly $9.6 billion to farmers for the lost value of their marketing quotas over a ten-year period. Also, with the low costs guest workers and the benefit of federal export assistance, the industry has gained a world of new consumers through exporting. For those health conscious consumers, tobacco now qualifies for certification under the USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP).

As well, according to a recent report by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in 2012, tobacco companies spent $9.6 billion marketing cigarettes and smokeless tobacco in the United States alone. An amount of about $26 million each day, or more than $1 million an hour. Not to mention federal funds at work to assist in identifying medicinal uses for tobacco.

It may appear the relationship between tobacco farming and the government makes no sense, but it actually makes an awful lot of cents. In 2014 alone, federal revenue from tobacco tax amounted to $15.56 billion dollars. Projections through 2020 show an anticipated $157.12 billion into government coffers (no pun intended). American tobacco farming is a windfall tax source for the federal government.

In summary, tens of thousands of agriculture guest workers are designated to work in tobacco while food products go unharvested. The government spends billions to burn food for fuel in its failed ethanol experiment. We have an unprecedented amount of illegal immigration due to a broken system. It goes to show, even a practical program, as is the H-2A visa, government involvement inevitably distorts the original intent.

– See more at: http://environmentblog.ncpa.org/tobacco-top-user-of-agriculture-guest-worker-h-2a-visa-program/#sthash.NEBzRYdh.dpuf

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Illegal Minors: It’s Big Business!

13 Wednesday Jan 2016

Posted by Belinda Silva in Agency, Government, Government Accountability Office (GAO), Illegal, Immigration, Office of Inspector General (OIG), Spending, Uncategorized

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BCFS, Border, Illegal Immigration, Texas, Unaccompanied Alien Children

BCFS

1,000’s Unaccompanied Illegal Minors and Millions of Dollars Delivered to Texas

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) has facilitated the transfer of hundreds of Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) to Ellis and Rockwell Counties in Texas.  According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Service, a flood of nearly 10,600 minors has inundated the border in the past two months, shattering the already elevated numbers of the recent years, and overwhelming the U.S. Border Patrol.

Agency reports identify the UAC’s are majority male teenagers from countries other than Mexico.  County officials reported they received notice of the transfer late Tuesday, just one day prior to the arrival of the first bus.  Though public leaders voiced compassion for the children, many criticized the federal government for failing to provide adequate notice.

The Lakeview Camp and Retreat Center near Waxahachie, the Ellis County facility, is expected to house 500 minors and 200 support staff.  The Rockwell County site, Sabine Creek Ranch near Royce City, will accommodate 200 minors and 100 staff.  In a public letter, Jaroy Carpenter, Lakeview’s Executive Director, referenced the event as a “youth camp of orphaned children (ages 13-18) from South Central America.”

Sabine Creek Ranch (SCR) original written statement said they had not received a formal request to house the UACs.  However, the following day, December 11th, they revised their statement to say they will receive the minors. SCR also praised the leadership of BCFS Health and Human Services’ Emergency Management Division (BCFS-EMD), describing the organization as, “people you would really enjoy knowing and working with individually.” With that statement, it begs the question, “What is BCFS?”

BCFS Health and Human Services, (formerly Baptist Child & Family Services), is a Houston-based 501(c)(3), specializing in residential child care service to secure emergency shelter for abused and neglected children.  Recent financials show a 2015 operating budget of nearly $56.9 million for residential child care, $16.2 million for community-based service, and $119,890.00 for international services.  These are astounding numbers, but even more so when compared to the organization’s previous years.

UAC

In a 2014 letter to the Secretary of HHS, Senator Chuck Grassley pressed the department for answers regarding the funds provided to BCFS.  Grassley requested the department justify the outrages spending per child, and explain the nearly $450,000 salary for the non-profit’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO).  In addition, Grassley wanted answers to the lack of transparency for an organization that receives 95.9% of their revenue from public support.  But, BCFS is only one of many recipients of a massive financial windfall from the government’s new children’s program.

With its $3.7 billion budget and recent classification changes by the Obama Administration, the UAC program has created the incentive for illegal immigrants to make the harrowing trip from their homeland to the promise land.  Through HHS, the Administration has infused massive amounts of federal funds into organizations like BCFS.  As demonstrated by the above example of BCFS, funding for housing and care has burgeoned since 2011.  Also, the amended classification rules for a UAC creates a misleading image of kids making a solitary, dangerous journey.

According to program changes, a person younger than 18 years, not traveling with a verified parent or legal guardian, is to be documented as a UAC.  For example, a 17-year-old, traveling with a sibling, aunt, grandparent, or unverified parent, is classified as unaccompanied, although program rules require the minor to be housed with the accompanying family member, at a rate of 2 minors per adult.  To maintain the 2:1 ratio, the program provides paid attendants.  Additionally, if their home country is not Mexico or Canada, the minor may be eligible for refugee status.  They are then reclassified from an Unaccompanied Alien Child (UAC) to an Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (URM), at which point they may qualify for lifetime federal benefits.

There is no arguing the U.S. is compassionate and charitable.  As so, federal programs should provide aid when events warrant as opposed to creating humanitarian crises.  A more thorough consideration of the impact of such programs is crucial.  A true humanitarian, and cost effective approach to the migration would be to work with international agencies within the countries of exodus, as opposed to enticing their youth to leave.  Enhanced opportunities, education, and safety at home would alleviate the desire to embark on a perilous journey to an unknown future.

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