East End farmers express concern over immigrant labor
<p>Growing season has started on the East End, but with the crackdown on immigration, farmers say they are concerned that they don’t have enough laborers. Farmers say about 75 percent of their workers are immigrants, and they make sure they have working papers and documents before being hired. The workers usually live on Long Island all year - others get special visas that allow them to live on Long Island for six to eight months before they have to go back to their own cou...</p>
News 12 Staff
•
Apr 17, 2017, 5:39 PM
•
Updated 2,569 days ago
Share:
More Stories
0:28
Gas leak at East Fishkill’s Amazon warehouse prompted employee evacuation
13h ago0:41
Vote Now: Help choose the next cover model for DEC's Habitat & Access stamp
yesterday0:23
Sorority recognized for nurturing community and environment
yesterday0:26
Hudson Valley communities receive bronze Climate Smart Certification
3ds ago0:51
Indian Point oversight board, Holtec discuss decommissioning options of former nuclear plant
4ds ago1:54
State budget excludes aid for Orange County storm victims, lawmakers criticize Gov. Hochul
5ds ago0:28
Gas leak at East Fishkill’s Amazon warehouse prompted employee evacuation
13h ago0:41
Vote Now: Help choose the next cover model for DEC's Habitat & Access stamp
yesterday0:23
Sorority recognized for nurturing community and environment
yesterday0:26
Hudson Valley communities receive bronze Climate Smart Certification
3ds ago0:51
Indian Point oversight board, Holtec discuss decommissioning options of former nuclear plant
4ds ago1:54
State budget excludes aid for Orange County storm victims, lawmakers criticize Gov. Hochul
5ds ago
Some East End farmers say they are concerned that they don't have enough laborers as the growing season begins.
Farmers say about 75 percent of their workers are immigrants, and they make sure they have working papers and documents before being hired.
Bayron Perez for the past six years has lived and worked at Wickham's Fruit Farm in Cutchogue from spring through fall. He goes back to his native Guatemala for the winter. Perez says the money earned in the states is much better than anything he could make in his home country.
The workers usually live on Long Island all year. Others get special H-2A visas that allow them to live on Long Island for six to eight months before they have to go back to their own country.
Farmer Tom Wickham says that although he pays for the workers' transportation and housing, it's the best way to ensure a reliable, documented workforce.
However, other farmers say the current program is so expensive and burdened with red tape that it does not work smoothly. In addition, they say that the anti-immigration sentiment has made it harder for them to find labor.
U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, who represents eastern Suffolk, says he is working with the Department of Labor in an effort to streamline the guest worker visa program.
