The St. Pierres have issued a statement stating all workers were hired legally:
"On April 21, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents detained several of our employees. We do not know the details or reasons at this time. We have cooperated fully with their instructions.
"Our employees were hired following the federal and state employment requirements. We remain supportive of our employees and appreciative of the valuable role they play in our community, performing essential work on our farm.
"We hope this matter is resolved quickly. Any other questions will need to be directed to US Customs and Border agents."
Moving forward, you need to be a registered user to post on this thread as clearly this is a controversial topic which really has our visitors energized.
If you really wanted to stem the illegal immigration, then you target the people that hire them! Yes, prices would go up for food items but corporations would stop exploiting migrants if their officers and managers could do prison time for falsifying documents, paying sub-standard wages, etc.
Migrants would stop coming here because no one would hire them. No hotelier, restaurateur, or farmer wants to risk their personal freedom if they go to prison while their undocumenteds merely get deported.
do you really want to shut down the entire US agriculture industry and the banks that would go belly-up when most farms default on their loans? really, do you?
Half of farmworkers are illegal and in regions that number is near 100%.
And I could say something similar about the hotel and construction industries. What you are proposing is to destroy vast swaths of the US economy. Great Depression stuff.
And how does this get avoided by use of mass deportations? Are you suggesting real immigration reform with an amnesty or automatic green card for workers in the industries that you list? Because I haven’t heard MAGA calling for “good” brown people being allowed to stay.
do you really want to shut down the entire US agriculture industry and the banks that would go belly-up when most farms default on their loans? really, do you?
Half of farmworkers are illegal and in regions that number is near 100%.
And I could say something similar about the hotel and construction industries. What you are proposing is to destroy vast swaths of the US economy. Great Depression stuff.
And how does this get avoided by use of mass deportations? Are you suggesting real immigration reform with an amnesty or automatic green card for workers in the industries that you list? Because I haven’t heard MAGA calling for “good” brown people being allowed to stay.
well, trump has said 'good' illegals get to stay, if they work on a farm or in a hotel. Although trump has tempered that by saying first they have to leave and then come back. But bottom line, there won't be ICE raids onto big farms in red states.
probably that's a disconnect between trump and the m'aga grass roots.
One trumpist on the main politics thread said he's fine with focusing on criminals instead of farm workers.
If you really wanted to stem the illegal immigration, then you target the people that hire them! Yes, prices would go up for food items but corporations would stop exploiting migrants if their officers and managers could do prison time for falsifying documents, paying sub-standard wages, etc.
Migrants would stop coming here because no one would hire them. No hotelier, restaurateur, or farmer wants to risk their personal freedom if they go to prison while their undocumenteds merely get deported.
do you really want to shut down the entire US agriculture industry and the banks that would go belly-up when most farms default on their loans? really, do you?
Half of farmworkers are illegal and in regions that number is near 100%.
And I could say something similar about the hotel and construction industries. What you are proposing is to destroy vast swaths of the US economy. Great Depression stuff.
Between the two of you you have hit the issue on the head.
Prosecuting the Real Criminals is correct. If you want to stop illegal migration remove the incentives and go after the employers. Currently a lot of US industries treat the risk of having a couple of illegals caught and deported as just a nuisance, like the photocopier running out or toner or a tractor getting a flat tire. If it happens you just find a couple more and carry on.
Agip is correct. If you suddenly remove all illegals from US industries the results will be catastrophic. Significant sectors such as farming, hospitality and construction are highly dependent on cheap illegal labour. The shock to the economy will be devastating.
The reality is no government, Democrat or Republican State or Federal, has any solution to the problem. They will announce some "initiative", throw some tax dollars around and declare victory. In reality the status quo continues. Trump's actions are a lot greater than any previous president, but also a lot less thought out.
do you really want to shut down the entire US agriculture industry and the banks that would go belly-up when most farms default on their loans? really, do you?
Half of farmworkers are illegal and in regions that number is near 100%.
And I could say something similar about the hotel and construction industries. What you are proposing is to destroy vast swaths of the US economy. Great Depression stuff.
Between the two of you you have hit the issue on the head.
Prosecuting the Real Criminals is correct. If you want to stop illegal migration remove the incentives and go after the employers. Currently a lot of US industries treat the risk of having a couple of illegals caught and deported as just a nuisance, like the photocopier running out or toner or a tractor getting a flat tire. If it happens you just find a couple more and carry on.
Agip is correct. If you suddenly remove all illegals from US industries the results will be catastrophic. Significant sectors such as farming, hospitality and construction are highly dependent on cheap illegal labour. The shock to the economy will be devastating.
The reality is no government, Democrat or Republican State or Federal, has any solution to the problem. They will announce some "initiative", throw some tax dollars around and declare victory. In reality the status quo continues. Trump's actions are a lot greater than any previous president, but also a lot less thought out.
everyone sort of knows that the solution is a guest worker program that does not lead to citizenship. But anyone who proposes that will get labeled an immigrant lover and someone who cares more about immigrants than Americans. So it goes unfixed and festering.
Same as fixing social security. We all know how to fix it, but anyone proposing fixes gets labeled as someone 'going after your social security.'
will be interesting to see where this lands. I've always been under the assumption that most farms of this size have at least a handful of illegals
I think punishment is based on whether the farm/company knew that the workers were illegal or not. Were the farmers unfairly benefitting from paying lower wages, not paying other federal/state taxes, lying on other forms about employment numbers, and etc.
You don't have a clue how much we depend on migrant farm workers. Not a clue.
I for one am ready for all the MAGA cultists to pick fruit for $2 an hour or work hard manual labor or manufacturing jobs for 70 hours per week for only a little bit more
As someone that lives in the Midwest (Michigan) Think of it as picking the lesser of two evils. Even if they didn't agree with most MAGA policies, they might have still liked them much better than the policies set forth by the Biden administration, or how far left radicalized many places have become, and by extension wanted to avoid voting Kamala so it wouldn't further.
That's just my guess. While I live in a historically blue county, they voted red this time, and the consensus was pretty much over left-fatigue and extremist (They started teaching the elementary schools about transgenders and it pissed off the parents very much)
It’s amazing that even with all those democrats turning on Harris, Trump only one by 1.5 percentage points. In 2028, there will be a lot of right fatigue.
If the people in your county considered teaching about transgender people in school is a more important issue than the economy, abortions, law and order, homelessness, illegal immigration and international affairs, the people in your county ain’t so bright.
The primary reason Trump was that many voters he was the candidate believed he was strong on the economy.
Dear ESP, you're sheltering enemies of the state, are you not?
“Enemies of the state” what fantasy world are you living in. Totally fine if you’re against undocumented immigrants in America, but to act like they’re part of some kind of devious takeover plot and not just people doing backbreaking labor trying to earn very little money to support their families is ridiculous, and just proves how brainwashed you are.
The laws are setup to encourage black markt labor, forcing farm owners to break the law to remain sustainable (=profitable). Absolutley dispicable situation, unless the illegal workers are known violent gang members!
Democrats and Rebuplicans, working together so we can't have nice things! Seriously don't only blame the current admin, decades of chances for both sides to create legal immigration, remove corrupt agencies.
I work in trade, won’t be specific as to where so y’all don’t harass me. The number of MAGAs who are upset about tariffs and asking for personal exceptions to them has been many and is hilarious, frankly. The White House is probably getting these same emails.
As someone that lives in the Midwest (Michigan) Think of it as picking the lesser of two evils. Even if they didn't agree with most MAGA policies, they might have still liked them much better than the policies set forth by the Biden administration, or how far left radicalized many places have become, and by extension wanted to avoid voting Kamala so it wouldn't further.
That's just my guess. While I live in a historically blue county, they voted red this time, and the consensus was pretty much over left-fatigue and extremist (They started teaching the elementary schools about transgenders and it pissed off the parents very much)
Give us exact school districts.You make is sound like 95% of school districts are doing this.
Gross Pointe? Saginaw? How about small class D sjze BFE school districts up in the thumb USA? or up in the UP?
Ann Arbor ya, but not in Holland , EGR or downriver.
Having milked 60-70 "fresh" cows my self all through JR, HS and college 99% of the people on this thread wouldn't last 8 hours.
You city slickers should thank illegals for workimg.in the fields to feed you. You can't go without a coffee for one day. Wait until there is no eggs, milked, butter or bread.
Better yet wait until there is no cell phones because Wall Street GOP bankers for decades now moved everything to China to make quarterly profits and China has ALL the rare earth metals.
The world has passed by Trumpers and left them in the dust.
If Trumper want to live like the good old days then they should get ride of their 96 inch tv for a black and white.
do you really want to shut down the entire US agriculture industry and the banks that would go belly-up when most farms default on their loans? really, do you?
Half of farmworkers are illegal and in regions that number is near 100%.
And I could say something similar about the hotel and construction industries. What you are proposing is to destroy vast swaths of the US economy. Great Depression stuff.
Between the two of you you have hit the issue on the head.
Prosecuting the Real Criminals is correct. If you want to stop illegal migration remove the incentives and go after the employers. Currently a lot of US industries treat the risk of having a couple of illegals caught and deported as just a nuisance, like the photocopier running out or toner or a tractor getting a flat tire. If it happens you just find a couple more and carry on.
Agip is correct. If you suddenly remove all illegals from US industries the results will be catastrophic. Significant sectors such as farming, hospitality and construction are highly dependent on cheap illegal labour. The shock to the economy will be devastating.
The reality is no government, Democrat or Republican State or Federal, has any solution to the problem. They will announce some "initiative", throw some tax dollars around and declare victory. In reality the status quo continues. Trump's actions are a lot greater than any previous president, but also a lot less thought out.
False. Agip is not correct. Do some research on the percentages and you'll be shocked.
But I agree with you that he is extremely biased and hides when he gets called out. He posts garbage thoughts and claims they are legitimate sources...yeah okay.
But it's fun knowing that Trump, the man they tried to kill at least twice, is still in charge. Him voting for Hillary, Biden and Harris tells me all I need to know about agip and you as well.
everyone sort of knows that the solution is a guest worker program that does not lead to citizenship. But anyone who proposes that will get labeled an immigrant lover and someone who cares more about immigrants than Americans. So it goes unfixed and festering.
Are you sure you mean "does not lead to citizenship"?
My impression is the reason migrants come to the US is not for their direct benefit but for the benefit of their children and their children's children. A migrant will be prepared to work twelve hours a day, six days a week, live in bunkhouse accommodation etc.. They do this so that their children can have the chance to get a proper job and their grandchildren maybe the chance of a white collar job. The migrant doesn't hope to live the American Dream but maybe their descendants will. Birthright citizenship helps reinforce this ambition as their as yet unborn descendants will be American citizens.
As migrants age and their children move on to better jobs, openings are created for new migrants to follow in their footsteps and so there is the unspoken need for X thousand illegals to enter the US each year to meet the demand. Ending birthright citizenship could change the calculus significantly. There will still be migrants, but the motivation - I'm doing this for my children - will be removed. But ending birthright citizenship may also have other consequences. The so called good migrants, the ones who work hard, obey the laws, and contribute to society may be discouraged. But the more opportunist, criminally blasé, exploitative ones may see an opening.
Dear ESP, you're sheltering enemies of the state, are you not?
“Enemies of the state” what fantasy world are you living in. Totally fine if you’re against undocumented immigrants in America, but to act like they’re part of some kind of devious takeover plot and not just people doing backbreaking labor trying to earn very little money to support their families is ridiculous, and just proves how brainwashed you are.
What world are you living in where ALL citizens are not enemies of the State? The State exists solely by a monopoly on violence, and must do everything it can to maintain this monopoly by force.
As someone that lives in the Midwest (Michigan) Think of it as picking the lesser of two evils. Even if they didn't agree with most MAGA policies, they might have still liked them much better than the policies set forth by the Biden administration, or how far left radicalized many places have become, and by extension wanted to avoid voting Kamala so it wouldn't further.
That's just my guess. While I live in a historically blue county, they voted red this time, and the consensus was pretty much over left-fatigue and extremist (They started teaching the elementary schools about transgenders and it pissed off the parents very much)
Give us exact school districts.You make is sound like 95% of school districts are doing this.
Gross Pointe? Saginaw? How about small class D sjze BFE school districts up in the thumb USA? or up in the UP?
Ann Arbor ya, but not in Holland , EGR or downriver.
Having milked 60-70 "fresh" cows my self all through JR, HS and college 99% of the people on this thread wouldn't last 8 hours.
You city slickers should thank illegals for workimg.in the fields to feed you. You can't go without a coffee for one day. Wait until there is no eggs, milked, butter or bread.
Better yet wait until there is no cell phones because Wall Street GOP bankers for decades now moved everything to China to make quarterly profits and China has ALL the rare earth metals.
The world has passed by Trumpers and left them in the dust.
If Trumper want to live like the good old days then they should get ride of their 96 inch tv for a black and white.
Clearly you are a sissy Bidenette and Harris voter, eh? You're absolutely clueless on politics and what Trump is doing. Dimes to dollars you are woke and support liberal professors at U of M, eh?
"Operating since 1986, Pleasant Valley milks over 3,000 cows across 10,000 acres. The farm is owned and operated by Mark and Amanda St. Pierre, with their son Jamie St. Pierre who is also involved in management and is married to Vermont Olympic runner Elle St. Pierre."
I grew up in Enosburg Falls, VT not far away from the St. Pierre farm. When I was there the area was all family own farms, but the St. Pierre’s started increasing their operation and putting all the small farmers out of business. They then started buying up all the farms, turned all the dairy cattle from free ranging to full time in barns, and left everyone without work. My family fixed farm equipment and when we went from 40 farms in the area to 3 we went under too. Never really cared for the St. Pierre’s who changed the way of life in the area.
First, sorry to hear about your family business.
You do however sound like one of the most knowledgeable person on this topic in this thread.
I know that “raids” in farms are not new. Do you believe that they have become more frequent in the past 90 days or simply more publicized. I guess that’s it’s difficult to really know, but you certainly have more insight than most.
Also, what do you think the solution is (or does it already exist)? Temporary work visas for workers during harvest season would work, no? I believe that’s what they have in Canada. But how do you deal with dairy farms and other farms which need year round work?
I’ll still call her a dairy farmer and owning 3000 cows supports that. By your definition, no farmers exist in California.
It looks as if someone employs illegal immigrants, they can be subject to a fine and 6 months in jail. I don’t know how ICE could have known about the St. Pierre immigrants so there must have been a snitch.
It says the farm is near the Canadian border and more importantly it’s the largest dairy farm in Vermont. That makes it a pretty easy target as the majority of large farms have illegal migrant workers.
I gotta say, as a non-MA6A Trump voter, I don’t like targeting migrants working on a farm. They are doing work that nobody wants to do at that wage.
The fines to the company can be pretty significant if they don’t course correct quickly.
I used to follow Elle on IG, and she did make it look like she and her husband did all of the work. Never saw any pictures of “the help”.
Yes, they are doing work that nobody wants to do at that wage. In the early 1970s, I worked hauling hay, a tough job and earned $6/hr at a time when minimum wage was $2 hr. If labor is essential, and business has to compete for workers, wages go up. These illegal workers aren't getting paid 3x minimum wage
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