The Region : New INS Center Caters to Farm Workers

Acting to avert a shortage of farm workers, U.S. immigration authorities opened a processing center in Calexico where agricultural laborers from Mexico can apply for legal U.S. residence under the new immigration law. The center at the U.S. port of entry in the Imperial Valley border town is different from the 107 other legalization offices nationwide in that it is intended strictly for farm workers living in Mexico. They can apply directly at the office and avoid the disruption of having to travel to the three sites in Mexico where legalization applications will be accepted--at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City and the U.S. consulates in Hermosillo and Monterrey. Officials of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service said the center is a pilot program whose success would be evaluated after 30 days. If it is successful, officials said they would consider opening similar centers at other border points, notably the busy crossings at San Ysidro and El Paso.