I live 35 miles from Woodland. The illegals are here, trust me. They don't do agriculture anymore. The latest survey in the local paper indicated only 3% of illegals work in ag. The rest who work are in construction (49%) and services (48%). The illegals have found better wages out of the fields by undercutting U.S. workers in all blue collar job fields. This has nothing to do with a tighter border.
Try driving to central California around Modesto. The ATM machines are in Spanish first - you have to press a key for English. You can't get a job at an auto supply house unless you are bilingual.
This is all about illegals sinking their teeth deeper into the U.S. job market. This has nothing to do about the number of illegals.
SE NECESITAN LEIBORS y Operadores de maquinaria pesada. Se buscan buenos trabajadores para trabajar con asfalto caliente. Buenos beneficios. Se requiere pasar prueba contra drogas. Llamar a Lindsay, 232-5666.
Translated = LEIBORS and Operators ARE NEEDED heavy machinery. Good workers look for to work with hot asphalt. Good benefits. It is required to pass test against drugs. To call to Lindsay, 232-5666.
The illegals have found better wages out of the fields by undercutting U.S. workers in all blue collar job fields. This has nothing to do with a tighter border.
In my city of Bakersfield, they can work ANTWHERE and are EVERYWHERE. Why would they stay in the fields?
As I am well aware. L.A. county is the epicenter of illegals, and they ain't here for the agriculture. But my argument holds true, even so. They are able to undercut wages because the taxpayers are subsidizing the other costs: housing, education, transportation, medical and often food. As a teen, I both picked fruit and did fast food service. Also, dropped newspapers to the delivery boys. A good friend did summer roofing thru college. All of those segments are filled by illegal labor now.
Same here in Napa. I have noticed whole residential areas here where the "Homes for Sale" signs are entirely in Spanish. No English at all.