We have always relied on (legitimate) migrant laborers in our fields. You’re thinking of illegal immigrants, which the government now calls “migrants” (they’re not) in an attempt to cover up and confuse the American people.
We could have had a better legal migrant laborer plan, but the labor unions opposed it. Not that any of them work in the fields…but the AFL CIO and even the UAW fought against expanding the program, thus virtually forcing farmers to hire illegals.
Florida has very strict requirements in vetting the status of employees, however, so these unfortunate souls were probably legal (and in fact some may actually have been Americans hired through day labor companies.).
But the true migrant laborers are hardworking, and they go back to their home countries when their contract is up and return again next year.
We have always relied on (legitimate) migrant laborers in our fields
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I hardly think slaves were legitimate. A great historian I read said that all great civilizations import their lower class workers.
Which always leads to the downfall of that great civilization
That was the Eisenhower plan. I think it’s long gone.