In our current legal system not only is the person committing the crime subject to criminal charges, but so are their accomplices. Additionally, if someone purchases something knowing that it was obtained illegally, this would make them culpable as well. To be prosecuted for such purchases, prosecution must prove that the consumer either knew or should have known that the items were obtained illegally.
From 1999 to 2001, fifty five percent of hired crop workers in the US have had no documentation. They were here “ illegally”. Since then, the percentage of “illegal” crop workers is down to about 40 percent. Which means that there is a good chance that produce bought here is obtained “ illegally”, and due to the amount of outrage against this “ illegal activity, “ and ICE Raids, I’m pretty sure most American farmers and consumers are aware of this as well when they hire labor… purchase produce…
And yet, this type of “ illegal activity” appears to be one in which both accomplices and complicit consumers are not held accountable.
Because we have a scapegoat. One who is less familiar with our language and culture. One who is easy to heap all the blame on for this activity, in spite of the fact that most of us participate in this “ illegal “ activity as well.
Did you know that pregnant women are dying in the fields from heat and from being overworked?
That 80% of the female farm workers have been sexually harassed… some raped.
That the high school rate for the children in this demographic is only 10 percent due to seasonal mobility and having to work the fields themselves?
That by law, their employers are not required to pay them overtime or give them breaks?
That on the smaller farms that they work they do not have access to toilets or running water?
That due to agrochemical toxicity, poverty and inadequate health care services, the average lifespan of a worker is only 49 years old?
What is legal. Is not always lawful. And what is judged to be wrong must, at the very least, be applicable to all. Criminal. Accomplices. And those who are complicit.
Without this. Our legal system will be reduced to nothing more than flimsy rules applied by children who want to win at Monopoly.
A confession: A couple days ago I posted about ICE violation/ bounty hunting, only to have my post quickly commented on by one of my favorite Christian bloggers. The comment began with the explanation that they could not sympathize with illegals because illegals stole jobs from citizens rendering those citizens homeless. This comment did not place blame on the companies who fired workers but rather on these voiceless human beings who feed our country.
And I was so troubled by the comment that I removed my post. I, who am the daughter of a field worker. I, who during prayer have been clearly called to stand with this community.. copped out.
But today I stand. As a woman who is made up of field workers. As a woman who believes in law and order. As a woman who is asking her country.. to do the same.
Written by Kimberly Vargas Agnese. Produced by Stephanie Agnes Crockett.
Moccasins at Meadow Arc 
Thanks for standing up and sharing your perspective on this politically-loaded topic. The facts about how poorly migrant workers and their families tend to be treated are often horrific. Deep breath in. Deep breath out. I am a big fan of buying foood locally (at a nearby farm or farmer’s market if possible) and also of buying vegetables/fruits/grains which have been grown organically (to protect the the health of the folks who work on those farms and also to protect the health of the entire ecosystem around those farms…) But I am sure some of my purchases have been grown/harvested/processed by the undocumented laborers you honor in this blog post. We are all woven together here on planet earth, whether we like it (and are aware of it) or not.
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Thank you for your kind response. I appreciate the time you took to write it . This topic is so politically loaded.. and I hate rocking the boat..so I really appreciate your support.
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Thank you Kimberly for being so brave, open and honest about your stand regarding this extremely loaded topic.
The conditions you spoke of broke my heart. Nobody should have to live in, work in or be a part of such deploarable working and living conditions.
Rape, that’s a hot topic I can’t even bring myself to talk about.
I am a firm believer in freedom. I’m a firm believer in human rights and I don’t give a poo where you live or where you’re from, you deserve to be treated equally as a human being.
I believe in animal rights too, but obviously, this isn’t on the discussion board in this blog.
I believe in the right to travel and I believe in the right to live where you desire. I also believe there is due process in place. With that being said, under no circumstance what so ever should anyone despite their status with which ever country they are in should be forced to live/work in inhumane ways.
I think we as a nation have gotten so far away from simple humanity, we as human beings overall have lost our way. We’ve allowed politics to divide us and in many ways conquer us.
In my humble opinion, and while I am so unknowledgeable about politics as a whole, I do have my beliefs and I do support one party over another. With that being said, in the grand scheme of things, Republican, Democrat, Independent, I’m sure there’s more parties, I think? Anyway, bottom line, no one ethnic background is above another. We all bleed the same. We all are conceived and born the same. We die the same. Human is human and it hurts me to the core the things these people working on farms are dealing with.
May God have mercy on our souls.
Great topic Kimberly.
Hugs and love to you and your wonderful daughter.
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Dawna, thank you so much. I feel like you literally came and stood right next to me as I put myself out there. And by doing this you put yourself out there too.
All of this is so hard. Many of the students Stephanie works with are children of field workers. I have taught these as well.
Watching videos about brown skinned people being arrested ( even documented ones)… overwhelms, hurts and quite honestly frightens me.
This could have been my father.. depending on how bad this gets it could be Stephanie and myself.. even though we’re also white.. I have a Hispanic last name.. I am struggling with the foreboding .. a horrible reminiscence of Jews in Germany.. Japanese internment .. a lot of the present language and sentiment run along those lines…
People in our community are afraid to go to the hospital for Medical Care… the majority here in Fresno.. are Mexican.
That said, I absolutely believe that people who harm others.. whether brown, white or green ought to be apprehended.. but there are many in the fields who although paying taxes and being upstanding citizens , have for decades… been unable to find a clear path to citizenship..
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Aww, thank you Kimberly. Your words have touched my heart and I’m proud to stand with you.
I have family members who are different sides of the political arena than I am and that’s okay. While I do support my party, I feel all sides are so beyond flawed.
I pray for everyone being affected by this and all the other issues not even mentioned here
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I am with you on this Kimberly. I think I’ve written a poem about this which says mostly, that over time, they say, slavery is over but why do we still see illegal farmers suffering in the farms with no adequate amount of food? Why do we still have farmers who don’t have a decent place to call home? Why do we have farmers who are there in a particular land, working not even knowing how they get their?
From where I am, we don’t have illegal farmers but we do have farmers who are underpaid, overworked and abused…by whom? By the system, and by the powerful landlords who believe doing so will increase their margin of profits.
I honor and value the hardwork of the farmers, for without them, there won’t be food on our tables.
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Thank you !! Yes!! Excellent points Mich!!
And thank you for hearing my heart in our emails.. for encouraging me to keep standing for this community!
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