50-mile rule uproots immigrant children living in seasonal farmworker housing in California

WATSONVILLE, Calif. – This December, thousands of migrant farmworker children are making their annual trek to new schools in California.

During growing season, their parents rent low-cost housing in federally subsidized labor camps, but state rules mandate that families move at least 50 miles away when the camps close for the winter.

San Jose-based nonprofit human rights organization Human Agenda says eventually about 90 percent of kids living in seasonal worker housing drop out of school.

A state lawmaker this year tried to change the 50-mile rule, but the bill died in committee.

And so for thousands of migrant kids this winter, the cycle continues.