Friday, October 12, 2007

Rumination on Immigration

Immigration reform is a hot topic in the United States and around the world; and it’s becoming even more urgent during the harvest season as farmers search for labor to bring in the bounty.

Farmers in the US are feeling the crunch of increased border security, as immigrants are being deported or denied entry. According to a recent article in the LA Times, farmers in the San Joaquin Valley of California are experiencing a 20% labor shortfall.

Many in this country complain about unfettered immigration, but don’t realize the true cause or contribute to a solution. When one has to make a choice between family survival and stepping over a border, the latter often becomes the only option.

Many of the families that Coffee Kids works with are confronting a similar dilemma. Given the hold that coffee has on most economies in the developing world, many families have few options other than immigrating to find supplemental income or working in coffee – and coffee is not enough.

Developing local economies will ensure that families have options and reduce the reliance on coffee and immigration for survival.