Illegal immigration by Hispanics alleged in place you might not think: Upstate New York dairies

Upstate New York might seem to be an unlikely place for the federal crackdown on illegal immigration by Hispanics, but in March federal agents removed eight illegal immigrant workers from a Butterville Properties farm in Smithville, N.Y., following a work-related death investigation on the property, Sarah Haase of the Watertown Daily Times reports. John Barney, co-owner of Butterville Properties, was arrested for allegedly hiring illegal immigrants and this event left many dairy farmers wondering, "Who will be next?"

The New York Farm Bureau estimates that state farms employ close to 10,000 immigrant workers. "The relationship between dairy farmers and Hispanic immigrants has proven to be something that is extremely valuable to both groups," Cornell University professor and co-author of a university study on dairy farms, Thomas R. Maloney told Haase. "Hispanic immigrants are doing the most physically demanding jobs on the farm, which are the hardest to fill."

Ronald Robbins, owner of North Harbor Farms, told Haase, "We can't entrust just anyone with our animals, and we can't say, 'Oh, well, we don't feel like producing today. The commitment to make money — and send it home to their families — ensures that Hispanic workers don't cause trouble." (Read more)