MR GEORGE MADE CORRECTIONS TO THE ORIGINAL INTERVIEW I SENT HIM AS A COURTESY FOR HIS REVIEW. I MADE HIS SUGGESTED CORRECTIONS WHICH IS WHAT IS POSTED BELOW.
A FEW DAYS LATER, THE WASHINGTON OFFICE OF THE NCBA CALLED AND ASKED ME TO PARTICIPATE IN A "CONFERENCE CALL" WITH THE WASHINGTON NCBA OFFICIAL, A LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NCBA AND THE PRES. OF NCBA TO GO OVER ALL THE QUESTIONS AND MR. GEORGE'S RESPONSES AGAIN FOR POSSIBLE CHANGES.
THE WASHINGTON OFFICIAL SAYS THE NCBA DOES NOT CONDONE IMMIGRATION CONVERSATION THAT DOES NOT RELATE TO THEIR CURRENT POLICY.
I DECLINED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS CALL AS MR. GEORGE, PRES. OF NCBA, HAD ALREADY CORRECTED HIS INTERVIEW AND RETURNED IT TO ME FOR PUBLICATION. I NOTIFIED THE WASHINGTON OFFICE THAT I DECLINED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONFERENCE CALL AS THE REQUEST WAS BEYOND THE PARAMETERS OF MY ROLE AS A JOURNALIST.
IT IS NOT ETHICAL FOR ME AS A JOURNALIST, TO ALTER MR. GEORGE'S ANSWERS IN THE INTERVIEW AFTER HE SUBMITTED HIS CORRECTIONS TO ME AS A FINAL COPY.
THE FOLLOWING IS MR. GEORGE'S INTERVIEW:
INTERVIEW WITH SCOTT GEORGE, PRESIDENT
THE NATIONAL CATTLEMEN’S BEEF ASSOCIATION
AT THE
FLORIDA CATTLEMAN’S CONVENTION
MARCO ISLAND, FLORIDA
JUNE 22, 2013
Mr. Scott George kindly submitted to an interview with author, Nancy Dale, at the Florida Cattleman’s Convention where he presented the keynote address on “What is the NCBA Doing For You” which included a discussion on “Immigration Reform.” Dr. Dale, author of four other books on the legacy of Florida pioneer “cow hunters” is writing a fifth book on Western cattle ranchers and the deadly risks of ranching along the Mexican/U.S. border. The book is the outcome of an interview with Douglas, Arizona heritage cattle rancher, Sue Krentz whose husband, Rob, was murdered on their property in 2010 when Krentz, inspecting a frequently cut water line, went to help an illegal he thought was injured.
A compilation of questions from several border ranchers was presented to Mr. George asking him to clarify the NCBA’s platform on border security issues.
“Most importantly,” says George, “the NCBA responds to its members, who set our policy positions. These policy positions change as circumstances change. So as of today, our members believe that securing the border is paramount. It is the responsibility of the U.S. government and Homeland Security to protect our borders. We support and expect Congress to appropriate whatever money is needed to provide sufficient personnel to secure the border and to provide those enforcers with the equipment necessary to complete their job!”
“While our policy does not specify the fixes needed,” says George, “Personnel might include hiring additional Border Patrol agents; State and County Law Enforcement Officers; or even deploying the National Guard. Equipment needed may be additional fencing, or updated surveillance technology. Currently there are sections of U.S. property along the border where motorized vehicles are prohibited, even to law enforcement. Those areas have become basically ‘super highways’ for illegal crossings. The United States government needs to allow law enforcement personnel to use mechanized vehicles to secure all of the more than 1,933 miles of U.S./Mexican border,” George emphasizes.
However, “there are no specific criteria in place at the present to determine when the border is ‘safe,’” says George addressing several border rancher questions.
“Agricultural interests such as livestock producers; dairy farmers, feedlot owners, fruit and vegetable farmers need workers,” George explains. “Other businesses such as the hospitality and construction industry also need workers but the NCBA is only addressing workers in the Ag industry. Some Ag industries only need temporary workers, but others need year-round workers due to the job description and costs of retraining. Agriculture needs a viable, legal, enforceable worker program. We support the concept that this program be administered by the USDA and that foreign workers can work in the United States for possibly 3 to 5 years and then return home. However, the NCBA separates the path to citizenship from a Guest Worker Program. We do not support a Guest Worker Program as a pathway to citizenship; there is a difference!” George explains.
“There are two reasons why illegals cross the border: For work and mischief! We believe that allowing foreign workers to legally come to the U.S. to fill jobs that Americans do not want would help cut the flow of illegals crossing the border. Border security could then more effectively focus on those who are crossing for more dangerous purposes such as drug running; terrorism/theft; vandalism; or other illegal activities,” George emphasizes.
“The NCBA supports regulatory reform that strengthens border security, creates a non-seasonal, temporary worker program for an adequate workforce and provides opportunities for current employees found to be in the U.S. illegally to apply for a legal worker status,” says George. “The NCBA does not have a policy on amnesty,” responding to another question of one of the border ranchers.
“The present H2-A agricultural temporary visa program under the Department of Labor allows seasonal workers (non-immigrants) to work in the U.S. but it is cumbersome and broken,” says George.
“The NCBA does not have a policy with regards to the E-Verify program.” (The current E-verify program electronically verifies eligibility for employment after workers are hired. The E-verify program fines the employer even if false identification for eligibility has been submitted by the employee).
In regard to monitoring the possible influx of diseases transported by immigrants into the U.S. from Mexico, George says this is “the responsibility of the Center of Disease and Control,” another question from a border rancher. The NCBA does not have a policy on this issue, according to George.
The NCBA does not have a policy on dealing with immigrants hiring “coyotes” from the Mexican cartels for border crossings into the U.S. as George says “this is a Border Patrol/law enforcement issue,” responding to another border rancher question.
George emphasizes that the “NCBA expects and supports Congress to initiate reform of immigration programs and do whatever it takes to secure our borders.”
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