COMMUNITY COMMENTARY

Harvey Pearson recently attempted to strengthen his argument for a "new" Proposition 187 by purporting to give us a history lesson on how the Eisenhower
administration dealt with illegal immigration. He discussed "Operation Wetback," a program in place between 1953 and 1958 during which millions of illegal immigrants
were "deported or repatriated" to their countries of origin, primarily Mexico. And he relates the steady decline in unemployment between 1954 and 1957, which he
attributes to more Americans taking the jobs vacated by the illegal immigrants.

What's missing from the above is something called the "Bracero Program." By 1956 the United States recognized it was in dire need of cheap foreign labor, especially in
the area of agriculture. Under the Bracero Program, millions of foreign laborers were imported, mostly from Mexico, and mostly for agriculture. We didn't really get rid
of foreign labor, as Mr. Pearson would have us believe. We simply imported them legally. Under the Bracero Program, illegal immigration fell by 75%. When this
program was discounted in 1961, illegal immigration was again on the rise.

Contrary to what Mr. Pearson suggests or would have us believe, Operation Wetback did not result in Americans lining up around the block to take jobs vacated by
illegal immigrants. Our need for cheap foreign labor has a history that is more than 150 years old. In days gone by (and occasionally today), new immigrants were willing
to work hard for low wages. But subsequent generations moved up. It is the American way and, frankly, expected. We simply do not produce generation after
generation of Americans who want to pick produce, wash floors, etc.

Furthermore, the average person applying for today is older, with skills and/or money, and often, a sponsor. As you can see, this is a different population from most of
those here illegally. Agriculture workers, bus boys and car wash personnel are not your typical applicants for legal immigration.

The obvious benefit of cheap labor, legal or illegal, has been the artificially low cost to us for goods and services. For example, residents of the United States spend
approximately 22% of their gross income on food versus the 45% to 70% paid by the rest of the world. This means we have more money to spend on other things, thus
affording us the highest standard of living in the world.

Some believe that if we paid a fairer wage for labor, many of those who are here legally would take the jobs currently held by illegal immigrants. To some extent, this is
probably true. But as we learned in the 1950s, and as President Bush acknowledges today, we will still have a formidable need for foreign labor, especially in the area of
agriculture. Certainly no new foreign worker program will look anything like the Bracero Program, resulting in not only abuse but appalling working and living conditions.
Americans today would demand a higher standard from employers, resulting in an increase in the cost of labor. The greater the cost of labor, the greater the cost to us
for goods and services.

As evidenced by all the arguments in the media in recent weeks, there is no simple solution to either our need for foreign labor or the problem of illegal immigration. It is
going to take considerable time and resources to develop a plan that works. The alternative is to do nothing. And that's unacceptable to the American people.

PAT TODD
La Crescenta