In the depths of the Great Depression, my great-grandfather, along with fellow farmers in Wisconsin, devised a strategy of organizing penny auctions, an approach intended to preserve the homes of their neighbors from the harsh blade of foreclosure. The arrangement was such that on the auction day of a given farm, the surrounding thoroughfares were blockaded by the local farmers. The only exceptions to this blockade were the farmer whose land was up for auction, a representative from the bank, and the auctioneer. The beleaguered farmer who faced the threat of foreclosure could then place a bid, sometimes as minuscule as a penny, to keep hold of their property.
The contemporary scenario has witnessed a shift in the solidarity actions extolled by farmers. While penny auctions are no longer prevalent, their spirit of camaraderie is materialized in their support for immigrant rights. Farmers can be seen leading marches, tractors in tow, advocating immigrant rights, simultaneously joining hands with entities that provide training on understanding one’s rights. They also challenge agreements between local law enforcement and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) which, as per the American Civil Liberties Union, could potentially give rise to racial profiling.
The surge of ICE activities in California is causing a stir. Actions, such as arresting day laborers in the vicinity of hardware stores and conducting an unwarranted pursuit of farmworkers in their own fields, are wreaking havoc among communities, fracturing families, and impeding the smooth operation of farms. The justification for these actions hails from the controversial comments of President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, who harped on the fact that undocumented workers— either by unauthorized border crossing, visa overstay, or the use of counterfeit Social Security numbers— had violated the law.
While one cannot contest the technical accuracy of Homan’s statement, it is worth scrutinizing the comparison drawn between the violation of immigration laws and escaped enslaved African Americans, who technically broke the law for their freedom. The underlying issue here is the prominence and necessity of law reform, especially when existing laws propagate undeniable injustices and disregard for human dignity. This current scenario is illustrative of our dysfunctional immigration policies that scream for comprehensive reform.
A particular point of contention lies in the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. Although the Act terminated a system of national quotas favoring Western European immigration, it simultaneously capped the number of immigration visas for people of the Western Hemisphere at 120,000. This number was deemed reasonable at that time as the influx of migrants in the United States was nearly nonexistent. This restrictive policy is a prime factor contributing to the large volume of undocumented Mexican and Central American immigrants in the United States.
Adding to the list of flawed policies, the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, approved during President Bill Clinton’s tenure, establishes permanent prohibitions on status adjustments for immigrants who entered the United States illegally, left, and then returned without legal approval. As a continuation of President Clinton’s ‘tough on crime’ platform, this legislation essentially barred millions of people from attaining legal status if they had crossed the border multiple times, be it to attend to an ailing relative or partake in familial celebrations.
Returning to the historical relevance of penny auctions, they symbolized resistance against injustice and demonstrated a commitment to community welfare in trying times. The act of participating exhibited solidarity with neighbors and a collective stand against adversities and perceived injustices. This spirit of unity and common brotherhood continues to inspire us even today.
In contrast, current immigration policies reflect a different direction, one where rather than focusing on developing comprehensive legislation to overhaul the broken immigration system, politicians seem content in exacerbating the situation. It is a period of transition, and the need for collective unity and action is more pronounced than ever before.
The post Echoes of Penny Auctions: Modern Farmers Turn Advocates for Immigrant Rights appeared first on Real News Now.
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