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"It's funny isn't it? These guys are making really good money, and a lot of it is spent in our community."

Right you are! We had one family that showed up every year in 2 nice Ford Vans and newer Ford Pickup with an overhead slide-in camper. All three vehicles had CA plates and I might add that they were nicer and way newer than what I was driving.

This family consisted of all ages from a tiny baby to the old grandma & grandpa. All paychecks were made out to the old man who distributed it amongst his sons and their families as he saw fit. There were 9 "pickers" in the group and they averaged 80+ bins per day at $10.80 per. That's over $800.00 per day and they stayed until the last apple was picked. Few, if any bruised apples, never had any problems with them and they all attended the local Catholic Church on Sunday. Good people.

They followed the Cherries starting in OR and then finished the final harvest in Flathead Lake. From there they moved on to the apples in central upstate WA (Oroville) to finish out the season. Then they headed south down to the Gulf of Mexico where they owned (outright) 200 acres with separate houses for each family.

During the winter when my wife and I were pruning trees in 20 degree snowy windy weather they were taking tourists fishing on their charter boat, drinking cold beers on the beach and having fun.

And some of us call them "stupid lazy Mexicans"!??

If they (Mexicans) were all like these good folks we would be lucky to have as many as possible come in to pick our fruit. It's the gangs, rapists, drug dealers and thugs, not to mention the OTM's that spoil it for people like these.

Yep. Criminals are criminals and hardworking people are hardworking people.

I find hardworking, grateful immigrants absolutely inspirational. Most of the ones I meet (who are, I think, legal...which is another issue) are absolutely overwhelmed and in love with this country.

They can not talk enough about what makes this place great. They are truly American and most go on to become fantastic patriots as a result.

If they (Mexicans) were all like these good folks we would be lucky to have as many as possible come in to pick our fruit. It's the gangs, rapists, drug dealers and thugs, not to mention the OTM's that spoil it for people like these.

You forgot one more thing... those stupid, pesky immigration laws criminalizing their presence for being in this country. (/sarc)