Jose Rivera meets Joe Stoltzenfuss

Think the PA economy doesn't need immigrant labor? Think immigrants should be thrown in York County Prison by the thousands? Think we don't need comprehensive immigrant reform?

The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and The Lancaster County Chamber of Commerce & Industry readily acknowledged that immigrant workers are vital to the state and local economy. Without a "legal and viable agricultural worker program," Pennsylvania's agricultural economy "can expect to see a loss of $97 [million] to $175 million per year," said Farm Bureau spokesman Mark O'Neill.

In Lancaster County, the impact from harsh penalties on guest workers "would be much broader than just ag workers in the ag industry," said Don Ranck, owner of Verdant View dairy farm in Paradise and political advocate for the Lancaster Farm Bureau.

"The ripple effect," he said, "could be crippling."

Lancaster Sunday News: Depending on immigrant labor