[HairOfTheDog]

FYI, after apples and pears are done, many of the illegals take their pay back down to Mexico and then come back again the next year.

Or move on to grapes and cherries and whatever else is ready to harvest. These crops depend on a large, mobile workforce for just a few weeks, the little towns can't support the workers all year round, but they do need them during harvest.

[r9etb]

Oh, phsaw. Let's not drag economic realities into this discussion. (A good point, btw. Then again, you actually being from Washington gives you an advantage over those who haven't seen the fruit industry close-up.)

[pollyannaish]

Amen and Amen. To both of your posts.

I think many people who have pat answers to these problems have never been in a position to actually have to deal with it first hand.