May I see your papers, citizen? Part deux.

A sponsor of Alabama's tough new immigration law told desperate tomato farmers Monday that he won't change the law, even though they told him that their crops are rotting in the field and they are at risk of losing their farms.

...

They complained that the new law, which went into effect Thursday, scared off many of their migrant workers at harvest time.

...

Chad Smith said his family normally would have 12 trucks working the fields on a Monday, but only had the workers for three. He estimated his family could lose up to $150,000 this season because of a lack of help to pick the crop.

"We will be lucky to be in business next year," he said.

...

Leroy Smith, Chad Smith's father, challenged the senator to pick a bucket full of tomatoes and experience the labor-intensive work.

Beason declined but promised to see what could be done to help farmers while still trying to keep illegal immigrants out of Alabama.

Smith threw down the bucket he offered Beason and said, "There, I figured it would be like that."

...