Don’t Tie Our Hands shows need for immigration reform

CONTACT: Dana Brooks, national affairs coordinator, 352-374-1544
Kevin Morgan, director, Agriculture Policy, (352) 374-1544

(GAINESVILLE, Fla.) - Pieces of twine attached to note cards are being used to send a strong, visual message to Florida’s members of Congress about the need for comprehensive immigration reform that includes a legal guest worker program.

The Florida Farm Bureau Federation is spearheading this effort with these tied strings of binder twine and a message that points to the need for comprehensive immigration reform that also provides for a legal guest workforce without tying the hands for Florida’s farmers. The cards are printed with the message “Don’t Tie Our Hands! Comprehensive Immigration Reform 2008!” There is room on the cards for constituents to write a personal message followed by their name and address. These cards are available at county Farm Bureau offices and through the FloridaFarmBureau.org website.

Congress has not acted on any immigration reform legislation in 20 years. Heading into 2008 Florida Farm Bureau’s members are making immigration reform coupled with guest worker legislation a priority.

“With the Florida harvest now well underway, our growers are praying that their livelihoods and the nation’s winter supply of fresh fruits and vegetables will not fall victim to congressional inaction,” John Hoblick, president of Florida Farm Bureau Federation said. “It is estimated that Florida has 368,000 farm workers at peak harvest time. Eighty-seven percent of this work force is of Hispanic origin, mainly from Mexico. Florida growers, unlike those in western border states, cannot employ day laborers.”

“I believe this campaign, ‘Don’t Tie Our Hands,’ can reinvigorate our grassroots efforts by dramatizing the effects of inaction on comprehensive immigration reform,” Hoblick said.
“The agricultural work force is as necessary for the future of Florida agriculture as land and water. Our concerns are neither small nor petty. In seeking comprehensive immigration reform that allows for a legal guest worker force, we must never give in. Never.”

The Florida Farm Bureau Federation is the state’s largest general agricultural association with more than 142,000 member-families statewide. Headquartered in Gainesville, the Federation is an independent, non-profit agricultural organization.