Immokalee, FL

Although our trip to San Juan was canceled because of the increasing violence along the U.S./Mexico border, some last minute planning and a little luck has allowed a large chunk of the original group to go on a new trip. We'll be heading to Immokalee, FL, a town located in a region of Florida where, according to one of my group members, 90% of America's tomatoes are grown. The cause is the same-that of immigrant farmers and their rights as laborers and property owners.
Something that initially struck me was the demographics of Immokalee: 71% Hispanic, 18% Black, and 6% White/Non-Hispanic. Time in my life I've stayed in a community that wasn't predominately White: zero. Enough said.
Unfortunately, the laborers of this region need a lot more than what a handful of college students can offer. We'll be able to help by learning about the issue, seeing the poverty and oppression first hand, and sharing our experiences with others. Politically, the issue seems without any reasonalbe solution. These laborers are immigrants from Haiti, Guatemala and Cuba. They are not citizens of the United States. They are paid miniscule wages or nothing at all. Charges have recently been brought against farm bosses, accusing them of chaining laborers to truck beds, beating laborers and forcing laborers to work from pre-dawn until dusk. If the immigrants were given citizenship or the rights of citizens, the economy would stumble dramatically. A gigantic population of migrant workers, who were previously paid nothing, would suddenly recquire an hourly rate of minimum wage or higher. Overtime would have to be taken into account. It simply would'nt be possible. A decent piece on immigration laws can be found here.
Anyway, I'm excited to get there and learn more abou the issue firsthand.