FRIEND'S RESPONSE TO SOUTHWEST IMMIGRATION CHALLENGE

    Illegals have always been a great help to country areas.  We greatly need migrant workers.  Say no to amnesty, say yes to migrant workers who can be bussed in to a facility for their care and food while apples get picked in Washington, (We heard from a friend in Washington that apples wasted last year, because there were no pickers) chile in Animas, etc. etc. Say no to drivers licenses, benefits, social security and unemployment.  Take them back home after the season is over.  Workers are bussed in to Cotton City for chile planting and picking, and returned at the end of the day. 

    In the late 50's and 60's we had some braceros camps.  Weldon's brothers, Richard and Joe managed one near Plainview, Texas.  The camp managers were paid by the employers, who in turn, provided the needs of the workers. The cost of other goods, such as clothes were purchased and taken out of the individuals' pay.  As you can quickly see, there was much room for graft, etc.  But it was a workable solution.  They went home -- to the country they love -- with money in their pockets.        

    Mexico is our nearest neighbor, and surely there is a way of helping them, such as importing their goods,  which we already do on a small scale.  We also have a few factories, etc., in  Mexico, more for our advantage,  because of the cheap labor.  Mexico has always made beautiful leather goods.  Some old trucks from Mexico used to come here to the hills around Silver City to cut  Sacahuista for straw for hats, baskets, etc. at which they were very adept. 

    One of my fond memories of the 'wet backs' we loved, was old Margarito.  He often worked for a neighbor  at Animas.  You remember her.  She had been a widow for as far back as I remember, and she was my first bus driver.  Once old Margarito was taking care of her place, milk cows, care for chickens and all, as she had to have surgery.  While she was gone for a hospital stay, the border patrol came and tried to take him in.  He told them he absolutely could not go, as she trusted to him to care for her things.  He promised them, that if they would allow him two weeks, he would be there when they came back to pick him up.  They did!  He kept his promise. 

     Yes, we do pray for the rulers of our land, and we do abide by the laws of the land.  How we appreciate those that care enough to have an effect on those laws and the people who make them.