(12/30/10) There is currently much consternation and hand wringing over the fact that the Georgia legislature may actually move to protect jobs by clamping down on illegal hiring. But the entire story is not making it out of Georgia newsrooms.

The argument du jour from the usual suspects opposed to enforcement is that Georgia would somehow lose its agriculture industry if we comply with the federal law making employment of illegal aliens well, you know…illegal.

While the media has faithfully reported on the agriculture angle, the existence of the legal alternative to continuing to hire black-market farm laborers who have escaped capture at our borders has so far eluded mention.

It is something called the H2A agricultural worker visa. You read it here first.

This agricultural program establishes lawful means for agricultural employers who anticipate a shortage of domestic workers to bring an unlimited number (no ceiling!) of temporary foreign workers into the United States.

But the grateful, legal, temporary workers must be treated with dignity and respect. Employers must provide free housing that meets lawful safety and health standards and provide workers’ compensation insurance to workers at no cost to the worker.

The wage for H2A workers must be the same as that for U.S. workers. The rate must also be at least as high as the applicable prevailing wage rate.

The employer must provide either three meals a day to each worker or furnish free and convenient cooking and kitchen facilities for workers to prepare their own meals. If meals are provided, then the employer may charge each worker a certain amount per day for the three meals.

These requirements make pliable and desperate illegals considerably more profitable to use. And there is little fear of federal punishment.

An H2A visa is usually issued for a period of one year, and can be extended by two one-year extensions for a maximum of three years. Then the temporary worker must return to the home country – making them poor prospects for creating a resentful “oppressed” and “victimized” political constituency.

The concept that illegal workers are integral in or necessary for Georgia’s largest industry is complete bunk.

One must wonder about the agenda of the reporters, editors and producers who have failed to inform their readers, listeners and viewers of the H2A visa.

I do.