Trump’s Immigration Plans Are Already Wrecking the Food Industry
newrepublic.com
Immigrant farm workers are too scared to show up to work.

Summary

Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration policies, including heightened ICE raids, are disrupting the U.S. agricultural sector.

In California’s Central Valley, a key food-producing region, undocumented farm workers—over half the workforce—are staying home out of fear, leaving crops like citrus unharvested.

Bakersfield saw up to 75% of workers absent, sparking concerns of economic devastation and rising food prices.

ICE is also targeting sensitive areas like schools and churches after rolling back Obama-era protections.

Experts warn these policies could lead to widespread economic repercussions.

  • Nollij@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    191·
    13 hours ago

    You should look up what Stephen Colbert did in 2010.

    There was an organization that would take any American that wanted to be a farm worker, and connect them with local farms. Even paid decently, better than a lot of wage slave jobs. Not genuinely good, but like $15/hour back then.

    As Colbert testified about it to Congress, “Please don’t make me do this again. It is really, really hard.” Americans really don’t want to do it.

    This isn’t even the first time produce has rotten in the fields due to a Trump immigration threat. I distinctly remember reading about tomatoes rotting on the vine in the deep south, probably around 2017.

    • conditional_soup@lemm.ee
      3·
      2 hours ago

      Georgia, when they implemented the LiveScan law around 2011. I was there.

      Edit: Shaka, when the walls fell.

    • Delta_V@lemmy.world
      2·
      4 hours ago

      All that means is that $15 an hour over the course of a growing season is not enough to support a family and put down roots.

      The very concept of “migrant” labor is flawed - its dehumanizing and precarious. People need a means of supporting themselves year around.

      Not only do agricultural corporations need to accept slimmer profit margins and higher wage expenses, but an entirely new support structure is required to maintain the workforce in agricultural communities during the off seasons.

      • vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works
        2·
        2 hours ago

        Seasonal work needs to be paid as year round work, people have migrated to get work for millenia. If folks were paid properly then this wouldnt be a problem. Hell my 2x great grandfather took great advantage of this by building up a team of seasonal workers who would always come back, also one of them was paid in guns which he then smuggled into Ireland for the revolution.

      • blakenongEnglish
        35·
        11 hours ago

        Explains why you’re so uninformed and uneducated.