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Farmers across the US are urging the incoming government to reconsider its hardline stance on immigration, warning that deporting undocumented workers could create a labor shortage which would cripple the agricultural sector.
The calls for action come amid increasing fears over the future of immigrant labor, which many argue is essential to the nation's food supply chain.
Nearly half of the approximately two million US farmworkers lack legal status, according to government data. Industry groups warn that mass deportations, a key promise of President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign, could disrupt farming operations, drive up grocery prices, and devastate rural communities.
“Immigrant workers are essential to agriculture,” said Dave Puglia, CEO of Western Growers, an organization representing produce farmers. “They are filling critical roles that many US-born workers are unable or unwilling to perform. Removing these workers would have profound economic and social consequences.”
The H-2A visa program allows farmers to legally hire seasonal immigrant workers, but only around 20% of the nation's farm laborers are employed through this system. Many farmers argue the program’s housing and wage requirements are too costly, and its focus on seasonal roles excludes year-round positions common in sectors like dairy and meatpacking.
John Duarte, a California congressman and fourth-generation farmer, has called for a balanced approach. “Small towns and farms depend on these workers,” Duarte said. He suggested exempting undocumented workers who have lived in the US for over five years without a criminal record and exploring pathways to permanent residency.
While some administration officials, including incoming "border czar" Tom Homan, have indicated that enforcement will prioritize individuals with criminal records, there are no guarantees that agricultural workers will be spared. Homan stated that “no immigrant in the US illegally will be exempt” and hinted at potential crackdowns on employers hiring undocumented labor.
For decades, the agriculture industry has pushed for immigration reform to secure a stable labor force, but legislative efforts have repeatedly failed. Without a clear resolution, many farmers and immigrant workers face uncertainty.
“Chronic fear of raids and deportation affects workers’ mental health and creates stress across the sector,” said Mary Jo Dudley, director of the Cornell Farmworker Program. Worker advocacy groups, including Familias Unidas por la Justicia, are rallying to defend laborers’ rights. “The anxiety is real, but when we organize, we have a better chance to fight back,” said political director Edgar Franks.
With agriculture contributing $1.5 trillion to the US economy in 2023, industry leaders stress the need for pragmatic solutions. “Without immigrant workers, America’s farms and food systems face an uncertain future,” said John Hollay of the International Fresh Produce Association.
Farmers hope their protests will spotlight the issue and encourage a balanced approach to immigration policy that supports both economic stability and humane treatment of workers.
