State’s Loss of Farm Workers

Harold W. Ezell, western regional commissioner of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, along with his Orange County-based “fan club�--Americans for Border Control--has duped many gullible right-wing suckers into believing that undocumented migrant farm workers were, in reality, an invading army from Mexico.

Now that there is an estimated 30% decrease in the number of migrant workers (The Times, June 15) “from Fresno to the San Joaquin and Santa Clara valleys� in California and worker shortages in Washington, Oregon and Idaho, I believe it is reasonably safe to say that the undocumented workers were just that--undocumented workers--and not the invading army that Ezell and many others had led some of us to believe.

Consequently, if there is the anticipated loss of millions of dollars in crops, we Americans will cover the loss through higher prices on the available produce in the grocery stores and through higher taxes to cover loans, subsidies and write-offs for growers.

The contribution of the undocumented farm workers to our economy for growers and consumers was tremendous, though undervalued, unrecognized and unappreciated. It is true, it seems, that people do not appreciate what they have until they lose it. Boy, did we lose it! At least the workers stand to improve their lot in view of the lower supply of workers.

GEORGE C. BALDERAS

Corona