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JASMINE GARSD, BYLINE: Every so often Al Juhnke, executive director of the Nebraska Pork Producers Association, says that he'll get a phone call from a farmer. It goes something like this.
AL JUHNKE: Al, I got a great idea.
GARSD: On how to solve Nebraska's severe labor shortage.
JUHNKE: Why don't we invite any immigrant - legal, illegal, I don't care - invite them to Nebraska, 'cause we have lots of openings out on our farm, and we need help.
GARSD: Juhnke smiles warily. He and several dozen other Nebraska advocacy and business groups have formed an alliance to demand a reform of federal immigration laws and state policy. They want an expansion of worker visa programs and a pathway to residency for immigrants already here.
JUHNKE: And these are good-paying jobs in the plants.
JUHNKE: People say, well, just double or triple the pay. You'll get United States citizens to work. No, you won't.
GARSD: Nebraska needs immigrants. But Nebraskans overwhelmingly voted for incoming President Donald Trump, who has promised to carry out mass deportations. When asked about it, Juhnke echoes what a lot of people here say.
