Despite formally banning slavery in the 13th Amendment 154 years ago, an informal version of enslavement exists in Upstate New York. Undocumented dairy farmers are working demanding hours (4 a.m.-4 p.m.) in dangerous conditions and are paid well below minimum wage. Their living conditions are typically limited to a small room, which they hardly ever leave for fear of deportation. Additionally, there is a transaction fee when the farmer cashes their check or buys them groceries. A looming threat of deportation is an ever-present thought, while we continue to be unaware of their fight for survival.
St. Lawrence students have difficulty understanding why mass deportations continue to punish these undocumented workers. Graduating senior Shannon Hickey supports efforts to help migrant farmers in the Upstate New York: “I’ve been lucky enough to meet some of these workers in the area that basically carry the local economy on their backs. They’re incredibly hardworking and decent guys and they’re being denied inalienable rights.”
Hickey continues, “our agricultural system is so broken that the hands that feed us are constrained to barracks-style homes, where they live in fear of spontaneous ICE raids, separated from their families and any sense of community. I’m studying agricultural policy in order to find solutions to this that neither imperil migrant workers’ livelihoods nor punish the desperate farmers who hire them.” 30 New York dairy farmers had turned to undocumented workers because they were unable to find U.S. citizens willing to work, according to a study conducted by Cornell Farmworker Program.
President Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric argues that individuals who cross the border illegally did not respect our laws in crossing, so there is no way to guarantee their compliance with our laws. Following this assumption, there is the possibility of violence and instability being brought over the border.
While these arguments are convincing for individuals with limited exposure to undocumented immigrants, we must consider the terminology which perpetuates an echo chamber of anti-immigrant rhetoric. The terminology of “aliens” or “illegals” allows us to dehumanize the migrants and accept animalistic treatment towards them. As “illegals,” they must be undeserving of fair treatment, since they did not legally enter our country. These sentiments are shared across the country, as wages have remained stagnant for many blue-collar workers. A combination of fear and anger has fueled this wave of hate towards undocumented workers.
Our interdependent relationship with undocumented labor is vital towards protecting our economy. According to Pew Research Center, 8 million undocumented immigrants make up 5 percent of the U.S. workforce, with a significant number in the Department of Agriculture. As crucial actors in our economy, many feel powerless to vocalize exploitative treatment.
Understanding the instability and threats endured by undocumented workers, the University of Vermont (UVM) has cultivated several programs to empower the vulnerable population. The Vermont Migrant Education Program (MEP) provides free educational resources to support children until the age of 22 or when they receive equivalent to a high school diploma. Additionally, the Huertas Project is a community-based initiative to increase food access through kitchen gardens.
UVM is addressing different avenues to support the undocumented adults and children in Vermont. Their requirement staff are bilingual and actively locate, interview and enroll migrants. The Vermont Agency of Education directs the MEP. However, UVM has contracted with them to provide a foundation for educational services. St. Lawrence University should create a long-term initiative to increase support for undocumented workers living in the North Country.
Informal independent efforts to volunteer with undocumented workers will not change the systematic oppression. Many St. Lawrence students probably never considered opportunities to help teach English or reduce food insecurity for the workers. Men In Color President Francisco Rodriquez ’19 agrees: “an administrative initiative will change the perception towards the invisible workers. It must make an effort to provide more resources for visa re-applications, union rights, and protection from exploitation.”