Now here’s a fair and thorough look at the aftermath of a federal immigration raid at a chicken-processing plant in Georgia that sent hundreds illegal workers packing. The plant, Crider, was forced to hire Georgians–many of them black, and many from off the welfare rolls:

…for local African-Americans, the dramatic appearance of federal agents presented an unexpected opportunity. Crider suddenly raised pay at the plant. An advertisement in the weekly Forest-Blade newspaper blared “Increased Wages” at Crider, starting at $7 to $9 an hour — more than a dollar above what the company had paid many immigrant workers. The company began offering free transportation from nearby towns and free rooms in a company-owned dormitory near to the plant. For the first time in years, local officials say, Crider aggressively sought workers from the area’s state-funded employment office — a key avenue for low-skilled workers to find jobs. Of 400 candidates sent to Crider — most of them black — the plant hired about 200.

Interestingly, there was a lot of friction between these new workers and the Crider management. Two sides to the story, I suppose, but it seems to me that Crider was disappointed to work with actual employees who could demand their rights and speak up and who expect an ice pack when they get injured on the job. It’s much easier when your processing plant is staffed by powerless, compliant drones who you can threaten to send back to Mexico and who therefore dare not organize or even gripe.

It’s a good read if you’re interested in immigration topics, though it might require a subscription. Oh, yes, that’s the really shocking thing. You know how I said that the most surprising thing about the Undercover Mosque film was that it was shown on British television at all?

Well, this one’s in the Wall Street Journal. Watch out for flying pigs.
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Just got the e-mail that Michelle is back and ready to start in with the blogging again, so this will be my last entry. Thanks very much to Michelle for the chance to bloviate here, thanks to Webdude Mark J. for his technical help, and thanks to all you readers, linkers, and e-mailers out there–even those KSFO fans who think I’m way off base! I’ll be appearing at the Tropicana on the nineteenth, and at the Elks Lodge in Calumet City the following Friday, and I’m usually around Junkyard Blog , so y’all come by and see me sometime.