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Immigration puts small town on cultural divide

America’s immigration impasse is a daily, dispiriting fact of life in Mattawa, Wash., and many places where noncitizens abound

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  • Workers who came from Mexico on a temporary H-2A agricultural work visa listened to an orientation after arriving at Stemilt Orchards in Mattawa, Wash. Even with the high percentage of noncitizens already living in Mattawa and working in the orchards there, owners say they still need to bring in more workers from Mexico.
    Jessica Rinaldi For The Boston Globe
    Workers who came from Mexico on a temporary H-2A agricultural work visa listened to an orientation after arriving at Stemilt Orchards in Mattawa, Wash. Even with the high percentage of noncitizens already living in Mattawa and working in the orchards there, owners say they still need to bring in more workers from Mexico.
  • Workers took to the fields at Stemilt Orchards in Mattawa, Wash.
    Jessica Rinaldi For The Boston Globe
    Workers took to the fields at Stemilt Orchards in Mattawa, Wash.
  • Alicia Cervantes, 19, waited reluctantly for the day to get started in the orchards as she prepares to pick apples with her mother, Flor, in Mattawa, Wash.
    Jessica Rinaldi For The Boston Globe
    Alicia Cervantes, 19, waited reluctantly for the day to get started in the orchards as she prepares to pick apples with her mother, Flor, in Mattawa, Wash.
  • A worker brought his bag of apples to the bin at Stemilt Orchards in Mattawa, Wash.
    Jessica Rinaldi For The Boston Globe
    A worker brought his bag of apples to the bin at Stemilt Orchards in Mattawa, Wash.
  • Parishioners at Our Lady of the Desert Catholic Church watched from outside the church at a packed Thursday night Mass in Mattawa, Wash.
    Jessica Rinaldi For The Boston Globe
    Parishioners at Our Lady of the Desert Catholic Church watched from outside the church at a packed Thursday night Mass in Mattawa, Wash.
  • Children took to the streets on their bikes and scooters during the children's parade for Mattawa Community Days celebration.
    Jessica Rinaldi For The Boston Globe
    Children took to the streets on their bikes and scooters during the children's parade for Mattawa Community Days celebration.
  • Eloy Cervantes made his rounds in his pickup truck to feed the cows.
    Jessica Rinaldi For The Boston Globe
    Eloy Cervantes made his rounds in his pickup truck to feed the cows.
  • Eloy Cervantes, Jr., 6, played while his older sister, Itai, 13, cleaned the house while their parents were at work in Mattawa, Wash.
    Jessica Rinaldi For The Boston Globe
    Eloy Cervantes, Jr., 6, played while his older sister, Itai, 13, cleaned the house while their parents were at work in Mattawa, Wash.
  • Crosses mark the spots where people have been killed at the intersection of two major roads are seen in Mattawa. Traffic violations run rampant in the town where a large percentage of the residents are not US citizens and many do not have drivers licenses or insurance.
    Jessica Rinaldi For The Boston Globe
    Crosses mark the spots where people have been killed at the intersection of two major roads are seen in Mattawa. Traffic violations run rampant in the town where a large percentage of the residents are not US citizens and many do not have drivers licenses or insurance.
  • Mattawa Police Chief John Turley handed out fliers for a community meeting on driver's safety that was held entirely in Spanish during the Mattawa Community Days celebration.
    Jessica Rinaldi For The Boston Globe
    Mattawa Police Chief John Turley handed out fliers for a community meeting on driver's safety that was held entirely in Spanish during the Mattawa Community Days celebration.
  • Dana Fox cheered on the boy scouts who led off the children's parade for Mattawa Community Days.
    Jessica Rinaldi For The Boston Globe
    Dana Fox cheered on the boy scouts who led off the children's parade for Mattawa Community Days.
  • Eloy and Flor Cervantes watched television on the couch after a long day of work.
    Jessica Rinaldi For The Boston Globe
    Eloy and Flor Cervantes watched television on the couch after a long day of work.
  • Children raced down the sidewalk past the Mattawa Post Office.
    Jessica Rinaldi For The Boston Globe
    Children raced down the sidewalk past the Mattawa Post Office.
  • Sergeant Josh Sainsbury of the Grant County Sheriff's Department allowed local children to sit on his police motorcycle during the Mattawa Community Days.
    Jessica Rinaldi For The Boston Globe
    Sergeant Josh Sainsbury of the Grant County Sheriff's Department allowed local children to sit on his police motorcycle during the Mattawa Community Days.
  • Members of the Distinguished Young Women of Mattawa rode in the Mattawa Community Days parade.
    Jessica Rinaldi For The Boston Globe
    Members of the Distinguished Young Women of Mattawa rode in the Mattawa Community Days parade.
  • Juan Erazo held the lead line of his son Azel's pony, Carinoso, as they rode during the Mattawa Community Days parade.
    Jessica Rinaldi For The Boston Globe
    Juan Erazo held the lead line of his son Azel's pony, Carinoso, as they rode during the Mattawa Community Days parade.
  • Flor Cervantes picked organic apples in the orchards alongside her daughter, Alicia, 19.
    Jessica Rinaldi For The Boston Globe
    Flor Cervantes picked organic apples in the orchards alongside her daughter, Alicia, 19.
  • From left: Medical assistant Genaro Jimenez translated Dr. Daniel Sloane's question to Maria Granados inside the Mattawa Community Medical Clinic.
    Jessica Rinaldi For The Boston Globe
    From left: Medical assistant Genaro Jimenez translated Dr. Daniel Sloane's question to Maria Granados inside the Mattawa Community Medical Clinic.
  • Eloy Cervantes made his rounds feeding the cows in Mattawa.
    Jessica Rinaldi For The Boston Globe
    Eloy Cervantes made his rounds feeding the cows in Mattawa.
  • Javier Preciado, 55, of Nayarit, Mexico, sat on the steps of the trailer he shares with two other agricultural workers in the Riverview Trailer Park in Mattawa.
    Jessica Rinaldi For The Boston Globe
    Javier Preciado, 55, of Nayarit, Mexico, sat on the steps of the trailer he shares with two other agricultural workers in the Riverview Trailer Park in Mattawa.
  • Tony Perez, a volunteer firefighter/EMT, responded to a stabbing in Mattawa.
    Jessica Rinaldi For The Boston Globe
    Tony Perez, a volunteer firefighter/EMT, responded to a stabbing in Mattawa.
  • Cynthia de Victoria laughed with her son, Warren, 23, over breakfast at their home in Mattawa.
    Jessica Rinaldi For The Boston Globe
    Cynthia de Victoria laughed with her son, Warren, 23, over breakfast at their home in Mattawa.
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