The facts and tone of the article well describe a place I used to call home, the RGV. Thank you Pablo for your diligent work.
The 287 G's under Obama mostly targeted Latino counties in the border zone according to a University of Chicago study at that time. In the border zone many sheriffs become a reluctant extension of the federal apparatus for labor rights suppression. Four days ago, an appellate court refused to lift a lower court's stay on Florida's anti-immigrant law SB 4C. It targets undocumented migrant workers. Half of undocumented migrant workers are Indigenous peoples from Mexico and Guatemala. "It is time for States to get the message: State immigration laws are unconstitutional.' ("Cody Wofsy, Deputy at the ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project: ACLU 6/6/2025)".
This applies to Texas.
If Abbott believes so much in "states’ rights" why is he now crying about the multi-million-dollar bill that he created? In this context, the arrest and deportation practice is a dispatch-able form of cruelty used as a cover for labor repression, because to date, not a single grower, cannery owner, or commercial farm manager has been arrested. This is why the Republican Party has never been willing to engage in "immigration reform", long gone is their mantra, "that once the border is secure then immigration reform can happen." This is a classic bait and switch to using internal means of repressing protest against the arbitrary arrest of migrants, denial of their due process, and suppression of first amendment rights; a three-fer of repression.
More Indigenous migrants have migrated to Florida in the past six years than to any other state. They work in the fields and many of them then move up to Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, W. Virginia, North and South Carolina to do cannery, forestry, and other manual labor jobs. They are repopulating the area where five tribes were deported from in the 1840's to Indian Territory.
Employing cheap labor without legal consequences for employers highly benefits employers who donate to the party pushing this policy. When the agricultural labor shortage arises in Texas due to this attempt to disappear the resilience of an embattled work force, Texas will turn to Florida's next legislative fix. but . . . Be careful here . . . if you have children . . . you might want to hold on to them because their legislature is debating Senate Bill 918 that would remove limitations on working hours and break requirements for 16- and 17-year-olds, potentially allowing them to work longer hours, including overnight shifts. Furthermore, the bill aims to ease restrictions for 14- and 15-year-olds when the agricultural labor shortage arises in Texas due to this attempt to disappear the resilience of an embattled work force, Texas will turn to Florida's next legislative fix. but . . . Be careful here . . . if you have children . . . you might want to hold on to them because their legislature is debating Senate Bill 918 that would remove limitations on working hours and break requirements for 16- and 17-year-olds, potentially allowing them to work longer hours, including overnight shifts. Furthermore, the bill aims to ease restrictions for 14- and 15-year-olds who have graduated high school, are home schooled, or participate in virtual learning (Florida Senate bill 918).
Sounds like a "replacement theory" is being acted upon right before our very eyes, they just want your children.
It's going to be a long hot summer and people are "Fed" up. Watch the escalation take place in real time. Places like Houston, El Paso, Phoenix, and Tucson are tinder boxes. Never mind the Border Counties. Never too late for idiots like Chump & Abbott to learn a hard lesson.
The counties must refuse these bully tactics. Let the damn Feds sue!
The facts and tone of the article well describe a place I used to call home, the RGV. Thank you Pablo for your diligent work.
The 287 G's under Obama mostly targeted Latino counties in the border zone according to a University of Chicago study at that time. In the border zone many sheriffs become a reluctant extension of the federal apparatus for labor rights suppression. Four days ago, an appellate court refused to lift a lower court's stay on Florida's anti-immigrant law SB 4C. It targets undocumented migrant workers. Half of undocumented migrant workers are Indigenous peoples from Mexico and Guatemala. "It is time for States to get the message: State immigration laws are unconstitutional.' ("Cody Wofsy, Deputy at the ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project: ACLU 6/6/2025)".
This applies to Texas.
If Abbott believes so much in "states’ rights" why is he now crying about the multi-million-dollar bill that he created? In this context, the arrest and deportation practice is a dispatch-able form of cruelty used as a cover for labor repression, because to date, not a single grower, cannery owner, or commercial farm manager has been arrested. This is why the Republican Party has never been willing to engage in "immigration reform", long gone is their mantra, "that once the border is secure then immigration reform can happen." This is a classic bait and switch to using internal means of repressing protest against the arbitrary arrest of migrants, denial of their due process, and suppression of first amendment rights; a three-fer of repression.
More Indigenous migrants have migrated to Florida in the past six years than to any other state. They work in the fields and many of them then move up to Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, W. Virginia, North and South Carolina to do cannery, forestry, and other manual labor jobs. They are repopulating the area where five tribes were deported from in the 1840's to Indian Territory.
Employing cheap labor without legal consequences for employers highly benefits employers who donate to the party pushing this policy. When the agricultural labor shortage arises in Texas due to this attempt to disappear the resilience of an embattled work force, Texas will turn to Florida's next legislative fix. but . . . Be careful here . . . if you have children . . . you might want to hold on to them because their legislature is debating Senate Bill 918 that would remove limitations on working hours and break requirements for 16- and 17-year-olds, potentially allowing them to work longer hours, including overnight shifts. Furthermore, the bill aims to ease restrictions for 14- and 15-year-olds when the agricultural labor shortage arises in Texas due to this attempt to disappear the resilience of an embattled work force, Texas will turn to Florida's next legislative fix. but . . . Be careful here . . . if you have children . . . you might want to hold on to them because their legislature is debating Senate Bill 918 that would remove limitations on working hours and break requirements for 16- and 17-year-olds, potentially allowing them to work longer hours, including overnight shifts. Furthermore, the bill aims to ease restrictions for 14- and 15-year-olds who have graduated high school, are home schooled, or participate in virtual learning (Florida Senate bill 918).
Sounds like a "replacement theory" is being acted upon right before our very eyes, they just want your children.
Watching Florida and Texas compete in the race to the bottom is really something else. Thanks Blake for your sharp analysis as always!
It's going to be a long hot summer and people are "Fed" up. Watch the escalation take place in real time. Places like Houston, El Paso, Phoenix, and Tucson are tinder boxes. Never mind the Border Counties. Never too late for idiots like Chump & Abbott to learn a hard lesson.