Mercedes

Introduction

Mercedes, a farmworker from New York, arrived in the United States at the age of 19 with the goal of finding work to make a living. As she entered the field of agriculture, she found herself working among others with similar backgrounds and stories: “From what I have seen over the years, many immigrants tend to lack opportunities and viable options, often settling for whatever employment is readily available to them, which for many frequently includes farmwork. Despite possessing qualifications from their home countries, immigrants often struggle to find decent jobs due to certain immigration status or work authorization requirements. It is not surprising that numerous immigrants end up in difficult and low-paying positions.” 

In sharing her community’s experiences, Mercedes highlights that she sees the urgent need for comprehensive immigration reform in order to protect the rights and well-being of agriculture and essential workers.

Injustices faced as an immigrant farmworker

Immigrant farmworkers face incredible hardships in their daily lives, some of which Mercedes has witnessed firsthand with her coworkers. One significant issue is wage theft, where workers are often not paid for all their hours, and fear reporting such violations because of rampant employer retaliation. Other forms of retaliation for exercising their rights include threats of immigration consequences, reducing work hours or pay, intimidation, or blacklisting. These common forms of retaliations can be dangerous to workers’ health, especially when employers are misusing pesticides, creating other unsafe conditions, harassing farmworker women, and more while deterring workers from speaking up and exacerbating the risks. Mercedes believes comprehensive immigration reform would help ensure farmworkers’ fair treatment, better working conditions and protections, and access to justice.

Due to their vulnerable status, immigrant workers are often subjected to illegal and harsh treatment, as employers may exploit and take advantage of them by using their immigration status as a means of control and coercion.

‘Immigrant workers should not be criminalized’

Mercedes expresses concern about current and proposed immigration policies, such as the recently enacted law in Florida (SB 1718), which not only creates divisions among families but also instills fear about the future of U.S.-born children in mixed-status families. Mercedes states “Immigrant workers should not be criminalized” and shares concerns she and her community feel when seeing the anti-immigrant rhetoric: “We worry about the potential expansion of such policies to other states or the possibility of it reaching a national level.” Mercedes points out the detrimental economic impact these perceptions and laws have on agriculture and its future. She worries about the availability of labor to pick fruits and vegetables, acknowledging that these jobs are often not desirable to many Americans. In light of these challenges, it is essential to highlight the importance of new legislative solutions that address the needs and aspirations of farmworkers and immigrants.

In reflecting on the unfulfilled commitments made by the current administration, she notes the lack of progress in addressing immigration issues. She emphasizes the urgent need to end raids and threats, as they perpetuate a climate of fear among immigrant communities. Mercedes highlights the everyday challenges faced by immigrants living in fear, where even simple tasks like grocery shopping or going to the laundromat are accompanied by anxiety. She strongly believes that immigrant workers should not be criminalized.

Looking to the future

Mercedes expresses her hopes for the future, which include for farmworkers to easily obtain work authorization in order to provide stability and security for their families. She acknowledges that achieving a pathway to citizenship status for farmworkers in the country may seem like an ambitious goal for some, but she remains hopeful that one day it will become a reality soon.

We must acknowledge and uplift the voices of immigrant workers like Mercedes. Their stories, contributions, and dedication to our nation’s agriculture and food system enrich our communities. To honor their dignity and strength, we must provide unwavering support and visibility of their needs and human rights-framed solutions. Bills like the US Citizenship Act of 2023 introduced by Linda Sánchez would offer a path to citizenship for immigrant farmworkers by amending the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish a new status called "lawful prospective immigrant status." Under this status, eligible noncitizens, including farmworkers, who pass criminal and national security background checks, pay application fees, and meet other requirements can receive lawful prospective immigrant status for 6 years with the option to apply for a green card after five years. It is essential that bills like this one with a pathway to permanent residency and citizenship be seriously considered and passed by this Congress.

Mercedes’ voice serves as a potent reminder that a just and fair society must recognize and value the contributions of all its members, regardless of their immigration status.