Trump’s Immigration Threats 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.

  • 9488fcea02a9@sh.itjust.works
    0·
    1 month ago

    i mean… trump sucks…

    but if an entire industry relies on exploiting undocumented workers, then i’m not sure trump is the only bad guy here

    • GoodEye8@lemm.eeEnglish
      01·
      1 month ago

      That’s probably the only good thing about Trump. Trump is so brazen with fucking around that the rest of America gets to experience the finding out part. Trump is fucking with illegal immigration and America is about to find out how much they depend on illegal immigrants (because I doubt it’s only this one industry).

      • Halosheep@lemm.ee
        01·
        1 month ago

        Rip the following things that often have undocumented immigrants working (from my anecdotal experience)

        • Farms
        • Construction
        • Professional painters
        • Drywalling
        • Carpentry
        • Concrete
        • Flooring
        • Seriously basically every part of constructing a building or infrastructure is supported by immigrant workers
        • Fast food
        • Normal speed food (restaurants)
        • Cleaning services
        • Landscaping
        • Retail, like gas stations and grocery
        • … And many more!
  • treadful@lemmy.zipEnglish
    0·
    1 month ago

    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.

    This issue is annoying because everyone is doing everything wrong. The workers shouldn’t be here illegally. The government shouldn’t be disrupting the food supply and should maybe loosen up legal migrant worker processes. And the farms shouldn’t be hiring them either.

    There’s not really anyone to root for.

    • LadyAutumn@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      0·
      1 month ago

      Illegal immigration is principally a clerical issue. A problem of documents. If you give them documents, then they’re not illegal immigrants anymore. They’re already doing the labor. They should be given legal recognition and protection.

      • treadful@lemmy.zipEnglish
        0·
        1 month ago

        I mostly agree. But just because I think they should have an easy path to migrate for work, doesn’t mean they are without fault in the situation.

        • Saleh@feddit.org
          0·
          1 month ago

          So what is “their fault” in your eyes?

          Fleeing from being murdered or starving? Working twice as much and three times as hard for a much smaller pay, than any “legal” American? Putting in the work, so there is food on your table?

          I struggle to see what fault they own.

    • conditional_soup@lemm.ee
      0·
      1 month ago

      There shouldn’t be such a thing as illegal immigration. If people want to come and work, let them. This whole bullshit system and narrative was set up to create a permanent underclass of labor to exploit in the first place.