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by Lt. Gov. John Rodgers
The recent removal and detention of nine Franklin County migrant farmworkers exposes the hypocrisy and failed policy embedded in the Trump Administration’s immigration crackdown.
While it’s not clear that federal agents specifically targeted the Berkshire farm where the migrants lived, what is clear that immigrant workers – undocumented or not – play an indispensable role in our country’s food system.
Dairy farms in Vermont and around the country rely on people from Mexico and Central America to milk cows twice, sometimes three times a day, 365 days a year. Simply put, immigrants form the backbone of the dairy industry, just as they do for agriculture and food processing nationwide. Studies estimate that at least 40 percent of the immigrant agriculture workforce is undocumented.
Congress and previous administrations have recognized this reality of the farm labor market by establishing special programs that allow foreign workers to come here seasonally. For example, Vermont’s apple industry uses workers under the H2A program, which allows US employees to bring in foreign workers when domestic workers are not available. The same program allows farms in Florida, California and elsewhere to bring in seasonal workers at harvest time.
But Vermont dairy farms don’t qualify under the H2A program because cows need to be milked all year. For many years, Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy tried unsuccessfully to expand this program to include non-seasonal agricultural labor.
The long-term solution to our farm labor predicament is an H2A-like program for dairy, so the migrants can come here under a legal framework. Yet in the meantime, farmers still need the labor. And because most Americans don’t want to endure the long hours and tough conditions that milking cows require, our farmers have found a willing workforce with people who have moved here in search of a better life. Unfortunately, their quest to live the American dream places them in the crosshairs of the current immigration crackdown.
Over the years, Vermont’s migrant farmworkers have become a vital part of our community. They are Vermonters supporting an iconic Vermont industry. We need to make sure that those now in custody get the due process and civil liberties they deserve. Anyone arrested in this country, regardless of immigration status, deserves a hearing and the full protection of their human rights.
Some sources:
https://www.bakerinstitute.org/research/feeding-america-how-immigrants-sustain-us-agriculture
https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/mass-deportation
Author is Vermont’s Lieutenant Governor.
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Categories: Commentary
I’m gonna call BS.
These people in office want them to be illegal. How do I know? Because every time a party has the majority, the power to change the laws…THEY DON’T DO IT!
Just like the PAC money. The only time parties complain is when they are the minority.
You sir are a bold face liar and con artist who weaseled his way into a den of weasels, well done.
I FULLY AGREE NEIL!!
Is this Rodgers Guy (a so-called Republican) looking in the mirror as he says “hypocrite?” He has shown his true character in so many ways for those who choose to see.
He’s on board and agrees with the rest of Vermont’s Lawless Government in designating Vermont a “sanctuary state.” They are ALL fine with spending Vermont Taxpayer Monies on harboring illegal aliens.
Harboring illegal aliens is a violation the U.S. Immigration Laws. Never mind that Vermont gives illegal aliens driver licenses and voting privileges.
NOW …….. the consequences are playing out, because we have a President who is enforcing the U.S. Immigration Laws.
Exactly right, Neil. They want illegal labor so they can treat people like slaves. I often wonder who are the Guatemalans who dream of coming to northern Vermont to milk cows in sub zero temps. And how do they get here?
Maybe they are trafficked here by unscrupulous and dangerous gangs. Maybe they are exploited by their “agents” who steal the pittance paid by their ultimate employers -the farms. Maybe Mr Roger’s should look into that aspect of his “immigration” policies. He won’t, of course.
Illegal labor is NOT immigration. It is wicked exploitation of the poor and the vulnerable. It should be punished harshly.
And the illegals (note I do not say “immigrants”) should be sent home. We can solve the labor shortage at home as we always did – Pay wages sufficient to attract applicants.
Bingo…….you win, most definitely. It’s a simple way of keeping slavery alive, that and trafficking of children. Lord hear our pleas, help us protect the little ones, may your supply of millstones be more than sufficient for the work at hand. May you bring the book of Esther, real time to our country and sort the wheat from the chaff, I ask in your name Jesus Christ, ruler, creator, king of kings, lord of lords. Amen.
I wonder what will happen to Rodgers if the feds ever decide to go after drug dealers as they have for violent criminal aliens.
I think there is a problem with proclaiming Vermonters and Americans don’t want to get dirty and work long hours. It’s just not true and implying that certain foreigners are or will is a good example of soft bigotry. Our country has a path for legal immigration and work visas. If most foreigners legally working here can follow it, they all can. The fact the government turned a blind eye to individuals that broke our laws upon arrival and actually promoted and incentivized foreigners to brake our laws is shameful, wrong and endangers the saftey and well-being of those they’ve sworn to protect. The problem here is the government and many, many people in power should be held accountable for this and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Placing the blame as to what occurred in Berkshire onto our current executive administration or ICE who are actually just enforcing our laws is merely projection, i don’t care care how it makes you feel.
I disagree with Rodger’s commentary, however, the median age in the U.S. has gone up nearly nine years in the past 45 years due to low birth rates. There are indeed fewer workers, especially in Vermont, in which the median age has shifted much higher. We are now a retirement state. I used to do morning chores on a small family dairy farm. I don’t think most people are going to want to work that hard. It’s much easier to work for one of the many non-profits here.
Disappointed in Rodgers. Sorry I voted for him. He’s still a lost and thoughtless Dem. who deceived the electorate.
I’ll second that and I’m deeply mad at myself for believing he was any better than Zuckerman. Another Vermont Trump hater and a real disappointment to those of us on the right (side of things) who took his word that he had left the dim party. Fool me once—! Another shameless politician positioning himself to run for governor.
The Sheriffs need to protect the legal workers and go after the illegal workers and their employers. Vermont is still a part of the United States subject to the laws of this country. Looks like there is a movement to get rid of the Sheriffs.
This proves as I’ve commented previously, individuals running for government office should be required to take a cognitive test to discover what their real mentality state is and expose it. Then either vote for them or send them to the trash heap. Rogers shows he hid his real liberal position and being a Trump hater and Illegal lover, two factions that are important. He’s wolf in a sheep hide. The second of alike articles.
IT’s all “organized”……if we picked random people from the phone book to go to Montpelier, we’d be vastly better off. If they did nothing for 2 years, we’d still be better off, just goes to show we are pointed, aimed, purposely taken in the wrong direction, it’s not a coincidence or accident of what is happening in Vermont.
Perhaps what has Mr. Rodgers’ shorts in a twist – as well as others twisting their tongues to support and defend a goverment sponsored invasion and unbridled marauding within our borders, is they are guilty of acts they don’t want constiuents to find out about. What is this I hear about Act Blue under federal investigation at the DOJ? What is this I hear about arrests of judges harboring law breakers? What is this I hear about RICO investigations and pending numerous indictments yet to be unsealed? What is this I hear about a secret club raided in Colorado? Answer me this – if I were to go to another country anywhere on the globe – can I get free everything handed over with no questions, no papers, no identification, no problem?
No one is above the law they said for four years. It appears the hinges of Hell are now lapping a number of ankles these days. Their panic and desperation sing like the Spring birds outside my window.
And the Republicans are in on it too.
Remember when Bush wanted to give faith-based organizations ( I won’t call them churches) government money? At the time I was like, no, no, no we don’t want government corrupting our churches. Little did I know their long game plan. Look at who was paid BILLIONS of dollars to feed, house, bus and fly on jets to all sorts of places within the United States, people coming to our country without doing the proper process. People bringing in children unaccompanied and forever lost to less than favorable situations, the likes of which include, sex slaves, abuse and definitely organ harvesting and sacrifice.
Oh yes, the hypocrisy.
Ask the people about hypocrisy……how many BILLIONS were given to the island, sheparded by the Clintons and the Bushes….what happened on the ground? Oh, yeah, people made lots of money on that one. That eclipsed our EB5 scandal, surely.
We’re in it deep, no doubt.
The amount of grift in DC, maybe even more than what is going in Vermont.
Who is Sodom and who is Gomorrah, still up for debate.
Auto correct…..Ask the people of Haiti about hypocrisy…..
It is past time to rectify this situation on behalf of Vermont farmers and their undocumented labor force.
Perhaps our representatives in Washington would be able to make some headway on this issue, between their hectic radical rally schedules.
When did we get representatives in Washington? I do not feel Bernie, Welch and Balint are representing me or any other MAGA party people.
The only thing the Vermont lieutenant Governor Rogers could do to beat out the previous one is to hand out pleasure toys for women from his office.
Spot-on, Richard!
Spot on, Richard.
Second try – Come on, VDC, that’s funny, no?
Since laws, rules and regulations are of no concern of John Roger’s, I guess he wouldn’t mind if someone was to drive 100 miles per hour through Glover village, on past Shadow Lake and then around Daniel’s pond several times with the idea that it is okay. Illegal is illegal is illegal!!
We seem to have another narcissist in our state house like Sen. Watson.
It should be mathematically impossible that so many inept people could be elected to the Vermont legislature, and yet…
Out of curiosity, how many illegals, if given the opportunity to work legally in the US, will want to endure the long hours and tough conditions that milking cows require?
Why wouldn’t they take any number of other jobs that are in demand that pay more?
Perhaps the real problem is Vermont has turned so many boys into girls, emasculated so many males, and imported so many soft handed, low muscle mass, low testosterone, Metaverse dwelling grifters, there isn’t enough real strong men around to do real labor – not just on farms, but on construction sites, auto shops and lumber yards. Still no excuse to break the law with impunity and no excuse for society to lose sight of how their food and drinks actually arrive in their ignorant twisted reality.
What happened to the ones in Berkshire that were put in jail??????
Lt Gov. John Rodgers states “at least 40% of dairy workers are undocumented”. So it’s probably safe to say at least 50% of dairy workers are documented. In my way of thinking; the 50% plus are paying Federal & State payroll taxes while all others don’t pay a dime in taxes; all “paid under the table”. Faced with that option; it’s clear that the 40% plus choose not to pay and to roll the dice of being arrested & deported.
It’s called tax fraud. It’s hard enough to operate a business ( or farm ) above board; but to allow other business’s ( or farms ) to pay under the table has to stop. Follow the money.
With the massive debt this country owes whey would anyone from another country want to become a citizen of this country?????? Now, if these people are paying federal and state income taxes, the law should protect the legal workers. Where are the ones that were arrested from Berkshire and were they legal?????
Rodger’s an elected official and he’s all in for allowing illegal entry into our country?
I think he is not qualified to serve simple stuff
Lt Gov Rodgers is not up to speed on the latest details of the Franklin County incident by reading the Vermont Daily Chronicle in a daily basis, in this instance, Mike Bialewski’s article from yesterday, “Governor says of Franklin County immigration ‘raid’ was a chase, BP arrests justified. “
Exactly, the immigration officer(s) were just asking questions. The issue occurred when the migrants ran from the police. Let’s get real. If I started running from police when I am asked a question, they would chase me, too, and I am an American citizen.
The way I read the visa is they can be Temporary workers if no other labor can be found. They can stay in country for 3 yrs until they have to reset https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/h-2a-temporary-agricultural-workers
And how, exactly, did Trumps policy fail? Oh, I see, it’s a secret.
Yes VT Rocks – and who controls the pollsters?
I wrote in Gregory Thayer for Lt. Gov.
Just sayin
So did I, Rebecca.
So, why do illegal immigrants who broke the law to enter and remain in our country illegally (and those who support them), now demand and expect to be treated according to the law? Isn’t due process and most of our legal rights and protections only for legal citizens?
And again, we have always welcomed those who come here legally and are willing to do the necessary work to become a legal citizen. If employers can’t sustain their operation according to the law, they need to scale back. The ethic is really no different than the employer who pays his employees under the table for overtime because he doesn’t want to pay the required taxes. Do it legally, or don’t do it at all. In both cases, both employer and employee are put in a situation in which the employee is exploited or forced to compromise his integrity, and because the employer has already compromised his, it’s eventually going to catch up to the employer and bite him in the assets.
The Lt. Gov. does make a cogent point. Migrant workers are a vital labor force. For whatever reasons, US citizens do not seem interested in working as a farm hand. Migrant workers are also a significant factor in the construction economy.
Perhaps Pres. Reagan had a good strategy in legalizing large numbers of migrants gainfully employed.
The large scale removal of migrant from the workforce would undoubtedly real havoc with the economy.
I agree, Pete, on Rodger’s proposed policy. Unfortunately he messes up in the first two paragraphs by wrongly blamingTrump immigration policy for what happened in Vermont and spreading uninformed, inaccurate information.
Re: “For whatever reasons, US citizens do not seem interested in working as a farm hand.”
The reason, in Vermont for example, is that social welfare programs are equivalent to approximately $40,000 in annual wages. At least that was the number reported several years ago. It’s likely a higher amount today. So… why work?
Of course, now that the various freebies from Federal subsidies and grants are being revisited by the DOGE department, those subsidies may change and people previously not inclined to work will change their mind.
More to the point: Lt. Governor, John Rodgers, doesn’t get it. Any of it.
No leadership!
It’s just more bashing President Trump and hating everything he is doing from John.
I say, deport the 40%, and hold the people harboring them accountable. They no it is wrong and illegal under immigrsyion laws. As for Zuckerman, he would agree with John and make it Trump’s fault. Just saying!
GREGORY
John Rodgers, is a DemocRAT, and always will be ……………. VT-GOP is a feckless bunch for letting this clown run in it’s party.
The Vermont Conservative leadership Phil Scott & John Rodgers, it would be funny if it wasn’t so sad.
John Rogers is like that clown sitting on a chair at the fair tormenting you to buy a ball and throw it at him and try to drop him into the water. I have to admit, he is doing a good job of making your life miserable. Are the Berkshire prisoners from the farm still in jail???? Inquiring minds would like to know.
Ah, I am so happy I wrote in Greg Thayer for Lt. Governor, not like David J. Meiselman admitted to doing. Now I don’t have to be embarrassed to admit that I f-ed up and put another Commiecrat in disguise in office. When will they ever learn?