With the unemployment rate in California at a staggering 12 percent, the prospect of a new government prison offers new jobs and economic prosperity for Californians. But what if the detention center is for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE., the federal agency that arrests and deports illegal immigrants, and what if the planned site of the new facility is home to thousands of undocumented workers? The small farming town of Mendota is struggling with this very issue. Most of Mendota's 10,000 residents work in agriculture. There is a huge demand for seasonal labor and most of the work is being done by illegal immigrants. But what happens when the produce is picked and there is no work left in this rural town? Because agriculture is so unstable, the City of Mendota is looking to diversify its economy. Its city council sought a deal for a multimillion-dollar federal prison, which is scheduled to open later in 2011. The city was also approached by Corrections Corporation of America, or CCA, the biggest private prison company in the country, about building another facility, an ICE detention center, in Mendota. For a city that often reaches a 40 percent unemployment rate, it would appear to be a promising venture. However, many undocumented locals are scared about the corrections facility. In 2007, ICE launched a series of raids against illegal immigrants in the county and arrested about 150 people. The City of Mendota's leaders say they are focused on the economic opportunity the new prison could bring, not the potential for more ICE invasions. Quotes JOSEPH DEL BOSQUE, farmer: Any fresh fruit and vegetable has to be picked by hand. We have immigrants that are willing to do it. And we should be thankful that we do. In this valley, there's a huge demand for labor. We don't have enough people here in the valley to harvest those crops by hand. And people don't come from the cities on the coast inland to pick our crops. MAN (through translator): The people who have their papers don't go into this work. It's the undocumented people who are willing to do it. So if they have that they will lose everybody. All the vans that go to work at 5:00 a.m., if they check them they will take everyone. And if there's fruit to be picked there it will stay. JOSEPH RIOFRIO, Mendota City Council: That's not going to fly good in this community, because that was the number-one thing that people would ask me. Is ICE going to be here? Is La Migra going to be here? ROBERT SILVA, mayor of Mendota, Calif: The feds look the other way, because nobody is going to be doing this labor work, OK, nobody else. That's why a lot of undocumented workers come to California. And it's been going on since the '40s. It's not going to stop. So I don't believe that the United States is really going to go down and crush this area just because the facility is there. I don't believe it. Warm Up Questions 1. What is an illegal resident? 2. What makes a person an undocumented worker? 3. What is I.C.E? What does this government agency do? 4. What is unemployment? What is seasonal work? Discussion Questions 1. Why are most farm laborers in the United States Latino immigrants? 2. With the unemployment rate at 12 percent in California, why do you think only Latino immigrants are looking for work in agriculture? 3. Should undocumented workers be allowed to work in the United States? Why or why not? 4. Do you think the prison mentioned in the video should be built? Why or why not? Additional Resources Video Transcript Arizona Immigration Law Opens Up Old Wounds, New Battles Give Youth Immigrants Due Process Download this Video