Home › News › County News
Immigration fees to hurt low-wage farmworkers
Download this story as a podcast!
STORY TOOLS
More from County News
A typical harvester working in Ventura County's strawberry fields makes about $12,000 a year. If that farmworker is married to a U.S. citizen and wants a green card to stay in the country with his or her spouse, the fees alone are going to cost a month's pay under a new fee structure announced Wednesday.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agency will raise fees by an average of 66 percent and nearly triple some fees. The changes take effect July 30 and do not require congressional approval.
Obtaining a green card which signifies legal permanent residency and is the first step toward citizenship will cost $1,010, up from $395. The fee for children under 14 would go from $225 to $600. A petition to bring the spouse or child of a green card holder into the country will go from $190 to $355.
Poor immigrants will have a hard time paying the new fees, said Jeff Ponting, a lawyer with California Rural Legal Assistance in Oxnard. The nonprofit group represents migrant workers who are legal residents, although it does not do immigration legal work.
"Our average farmworker client who is doing harvesting year-round isn't making more than $12,000 a year," Ponting said. "The only way they can survive is by doubling up in their housing with another family, or having everybody in their family work, and that includes their children."
Cesar Nava, an immigration lawyer in Oxnard, said he's had a flood of clients recently who are trying to get their petitions in before the new fees take effect.
"Based on these significant increases in fees, I think a lot of people are going to forgo for some time the opportunity (to apply for green cards)," he said.
Still, the benefits of permanent residency, and especially citizenship, are so great that Ponting said migrant workers will probably do whatever is necessary to pay the new fees.
"They will endure the costs, even if they are tremendous," he said. "That's not to say it's fair or it's right, but you're talking about people who have endured so many hardships to get where they are. They're probably going to be willing to take on further hardship."
Immigration officials say they need to raise fees to deal with a growing workload of applications. Citizenship and Immigration Services has a backlog of about 1 million cases.
"We need the money," said Emilio Gonzalez, the agency's director. "To do nothing is to invite organizational disaster because we are just not covering the cost of doing business."
The agency relies on user fees for almost its entire budget. The fee increases are expected to generate an extra $1.1 billion annually, raising its overall fee revenue to about $2.35 billion a year.
The money would be used to hire and train 1,500 employees, build or renovate offices, and streamline application procedures for legal permanent residency, naturalization, immigrant worker petitions and green card renewals.
Nava, however, said he's not confident that the money will help. Fee hikes in the past have been justified on the same grounds, he said, but they've never brought significantly shorter waiting times for applicants.
"In theory it's good, if they're able to implement it, but they're always saying, We want to expedite the process, upgrade the technology,' and you've never seen a substantial effect with how fast these forms and petitions are processed," Nava said.
Democrats in Congress have criticized the fee hikes, and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., introduced legislation seeking to ease the increases by having Congress allocate money to the federal agency.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Posted by KathrynAsh on May 31, 2007 at 4:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Gosh, you'd think citizenship in the greatest country on earth might be worth more than the fee a coyote charges to smuggle immigrants across the border.
Tax payers shouldn't have to subsidize farm workers or pay immigrants way. USCIS should be funded by whatever fees it needs to run, not by tax dollars. Low wage immigrants cost tax payers enough anyways. If these fees are hurting farmworkers, then maybe the farms should start paying them more money.
Posted by Nosmo_King on May 31, 2007 at 6:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I was amused at the lawyer's comment about the fees "that's not to say it's fair or it's right..." wouldn't it be nice to focus on exactly that.
Posted by cslaurie on May 31, 2007 at 7:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How much do they pay a coyote to break and enter into the USA? Maybe if the end users of this labor were assessed a fee for each worker to offset the cost of a legal entry card it would be fair? I'm sure tired of paying for it.
Posted by msavalla on May 31, 2007 at 8:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe the author should look at the crux of the issue. Illegality of being here in the first place. Since when do we start paying for criminal acts. Maybe we should provide bank robbers with a bag of cash and and a get out of jail card?
Posted by lawson_wayne on May 31, 2007 at 8:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The writer plays the empathy by stating "A typical harvester working in Ventura County's strawberry fields makes about $12,000 a year."
But fails to state that harvesting is not a full-time job.
Posted by Resolute_Yet_Ambivalent on May 31, 2007 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Racism is alive and well in Ventura County! Why do you think they are so desparate to leave Mexico? For the same reason your parents/grandparents/great grandparents were to leave their countries. Next time you chomp on a strawberry (or any other kind of produce for that matter), just remember who picked it.
Posted by kdavis on May 31, 2007 at 9:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Question for everyone: Did we ask them to come here? If someone from another country wants to legally come to the USA they should be able to providing they obey the laws of the USA. If becoming a citizen of the USA is your ultimate goal then you will come up with the money required to live here. Period. Stop this nonsense. Build the fence, enforce our laws, and deport those not entitled to live here. Then, come up with a guest-worker program. We can survive without illegals, contrary to popular belief
Posted by AnnaWhaat on May 31, 2007 at 9:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sicnhappy , I agree ! Heck with it , I will grow my own strawberries !!!! Come here legally or NOT at all..........either that or pay the price ! PERIOD.......Has nothing to do with racist. IN fact the people who hate illegals the MOST are the legal hispanics !!!! Ask anyone !!!!
Posted by siberiantrio on May 31, 2007 at 10:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The racism card is a horrible argument, and a weak one. For those that cry "racist," I cry "anarchist." Illegal is illegal, no matter how you want to paint it. My ancestors came here through Ellis Island, the legal way. Laws are implemented for a reason. Immigrants who come here legally are screened for diseases, criminal records, and literacy. This is what has made America such a great country. Last night, I was watching an investigation program, and the police were called onto the scene of a murder. The police were given a suspect's name, and were ready to pick him up, but unfortuantely the suspect had already fled back to his home country of Mexico. Its very difficult to prosecute someone who is not a legal citizen. What really floored me was the police questioning of witnesses. The witnesses advised, (in Spanish mind you) that they would take care of the suspect themselves, and did not need police intervention, as this was how they did things in Mexico. This shows a distinct arrogance, and lack of respect for American laws. These are the type of people you want here, Resolute_Yet_Ambivalent? I certainly hope you have a better argument than; 'they pick your strawberries, racist.' Because that is essentially what you said.
And please bear in mind, I pick my own fruits and vegatables at Underwood Farms in Moorpark. Its fresher, and much less expensive then acquiring them at the grocery store.
Posted by Anita_Corona on May 31, 2007 at 11:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lawson- it's not a full time job but not like they can get unemployment. As I was clicking on the link to read the article, I knew exactly what the comments of most of you would be and I was right!
I'm not with them or against them. I live my life and as long as they or anybody else doesn't bother me... the way I look at it, is this is an opportunity they've all been asking for. Maybe not the one the wanted exactly but beggars can't be choosers. They could look at it as an investment. Paying a $1000 fee and not having to worry about being in this country illegally and working I would say will pay off for it.
As far as surviving without illegals, no one can really say because we've never lived without them. Also, may I remind some of you, not only Mexicans are here illegally. We tend to generalize or call all of them Mexicans when they come from all over the world. And yes, we may be paying for their medical and medicare and medi this and that, but if the Medi administrators would do their job right, they can be denied all of that for being illegals. lets not forget that they work here illegally and medi taxes are also withdrawn from their wages.
As for the decent wages, as far as I know, minimum wage has gone up at least two or three times. If you want to make more money than that, maybe you should go back to school and further your education. Now if a person working the field, whether legal or not, makes more money that you, well I would try harder to finding a better job. I'm sure there's lots out there.
Posted by shaver_one on May 31, 2007 at 12:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
1. Medical taxes can't be taken from cash salaries. Illegals don't get a paycheck...they get cash.
2. If illegal immigration from Mexico into the United States is OK, and if Mexico is so concerned that the US wants to block those coming across our border, why are they, the Mexican Gov't building a fence along their southern border with Guatamala?
3. Sicnhappy...MY ancestors have been on this land for over 10,000 years, albeit on the east coast.
4. Enforce the laws against illegal immigration AND employment of the illegal immigrants. If you want to be here legally, go through the legal process.
Posted by shaver_one on May 31, 2007 at 1:11 p.m.
(This thread was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by Anita_Corona on May 31, 2007 at 1:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
well believe it or not, they do. Well that's if they ever want to become legal residents of this country. That is a requirement. If they ever file, they need to prove that they have been working here, have NOT been a burden to this country, and that they've filed their taxes. Yes, they file their taxes but they can't claim any refunds. I know this from experience when I volunteered with assisting people with the filing of their applications. Well unless the laws have changed. Once they become a resident, then they can't ask for Welfare or any type of financial assistant for I don't remember how long. But yes, they do file taxes. those that are not interested in becoming legal residents I guess don't.
Posted by KathrynAsh on May 31, 2007 at 2 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No one's talking about exactly why the farmers can't pay these people decent money? Legal or illegal, this whole problem is caused by the fact that farmers still want slaves. Why aren't farms looking for ways to eliminate the need for people to work stooped in the fields for 10 hours a day? No one can live in 12,000 a year picking strawberries, that's why their bankrupting the emergency rooms, and their children are growing up resentful and hostile to America.
People might call me racist for being against illegal immigration, but I think it's incredibility racist for American farmers to think they have a right to a never ending supply of uneducated brown people to pick their crops for crap wages.
Posted by shaver_one on May 31, 2007 at 2:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Anti-Illegal Immigation does not make you Anti-Immigration...nor does it make you racist.
Posted by allblacks on May 31, 2007 at 2:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They only bring out the racism card to try and intimidate those who want legal immigration enforced. The biggest opponent to illegal immigration I know is my wife, the legal immigrant from SE Asia.
Posted by Anita_Corona on May 31, 2007 at 3:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LMAO at allblacks!!!!!
Posted by Resolute_Yet_Ambivalent on May 31, 2007 at 3:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You pre-suppose that farmworkers are illegal, but most are not!
Posted by sydney on May 31, 2007 at 5:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Raise the fees even more, get them outa here!
Posted by wdwinder1 on May 31, 2007 at 9:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There are NO valid arguements for being here illegally. There are plenty of unemployed here. The jobs will get done. The immigrants who came here from europe were escaping famine and religious persecution. The illegals coming here now are looking for Chevies.
FlakiFlav, the way you write makes it obvious you are uneducated. Perhaps a product of Oxnard Union? If you husband got decline, too bad! [sic] US takes in more immigrants than the rest of the world combined. If you get turned down here, try somwhere else. Hey, maybe try changing the politics in the Mexico you all so proudly support with flags on your cars and "piss on" La Migra stickers on your windows. Hey, maybe its karma come around to bite you, eh chica?
Posted by wdwinder1 on May 31, 2007 at 9:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Resolute, if most farmworkers are NOT here illegally, then I guess the rest of us don't have to worry about the $10 lettuce. Right?
Posted by kelly13 on June 1, 2007 at 9:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is pretty obvious how we Americans feel about the whole illegal problem. Now if the politicans will only listen to us and stop this insanity. Enough is enough. Let them know how you feel. Don't just keep sitting back and let this crap happen.
Posted by kelly13 on June 2, 2007 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Instead of an article entitled "Immigration fees to hurt low wage farmworkers", how about an article called "More fees for the middle class to support illegals"? Tell the other side. Our side.
(Requires free registration.)
Article discussions on this site are to support community debates of issues related to our stories and editorials.
Discussions should not stray from the subject of the story or editorial.
We do not allow the following:
We reserve the right to delete threads and/or ban users for these or other reasons we deem necessary.
Opinions are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.