If the goal of the harsh new Georgia immigration law was to drive out illegally present workers and deter others from coming to the state, it is working very well. But this new measure is now falling in to the "be careful what you wish for" category. Even though the new law is being blocked (for now) by the courts, it is still causing many migrant workers to take Georgia off the itinerary and look for farm work elsewhere. Governor Deal thought sending convicts in to the fields and orchards would be the solution. But lo and behold, they walked off the job complaining the work was too tough. And now there are reports that Georgia's crops are in serious trouble with much of it already rotting because there are not enough workers.
The Daily, the new online newspaper, has an extensive story on the problems in Georgia that is worth a read.
Anti-immigrant groups love to portray these harsh new laws as helping to open up jobs for Americans. But when Americans don't do the work, not only is there no job creation benefit, but others up the chain - the truckers who ship the food, the factory workers who turn the food into the products we buy at supermarkets, etc. lose their jobs. And we end up importing food to make up the difference or just deal with jacked up prices that are the natural response to a shortage situation.
These are results that only exacerbate the bad economy. Perhaps Georgia will provide Americans the imperical evidence they need to see the necessity of a more open immigration policy.
