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Home News Undocumented Immigrants’ Deportation Threatens U.S. Farming Industry

Undocumented Immigrants’ Deportation Threatens U.S. Farming Industry

by Celia

Farming is a tough job that requires a lot of hard work and dedication. New York dairy farmer Nate Chittenden told us, “This is a 24-hour job, so I need people who are willing to work in shifts at different times of the day.” But finding those workers is becoming increasingly difficult.

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American farms are facing a decline, with a 7% drop in the number of farms from 2017 to 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That’s about 142,000 fewer farms in just five years. Farmers are dealing with several challenges, including climate change, bird flu outbreaks, and higher costs for feed and fertilizer. Now, they are also facing the possibility of losing a significant part of their workforce due to the Trump administration’s plan to deport millions of undocumented immigrants.

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New Jersey farmer Kurt Alstede said, “It’s a lot of hands to hand-harvest fruits and vegetables.” More than two-thirds of U.S. crop workers are foreign-born, and many came to the country through H-2A visas. However, officials estimate that 42% of these workers are undocumented migrants.

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Since taking office, President Trump has issued several executive actions to reshape federal immigration and border policies. While these actions are expected to face legal challenges, they have already created fear and uncertainty in the community. The United Farm Workers labor union reports an increase in migrants seeking help.

“The threats are scary, but at the same time, farm workers, more than anyone, understand the reality that without them, this work is not going to get done,” said UFW communications director Antonio De Loera.

Alstede told CBS News that while his workers are legally authorized, he is closely watching Trump’s administration to see what policies will be implemented next. “Anything that happens from a policy standpoint that reduces people in our workforce is going to make it very difficult for the industry and certainly for agriculture,” he said. “We would be in big trouble if we lost our workforce.”

Fewer workers could lead to less homegrown produce, according to University of Montana economist Diane Charlton. “Because we have been importing a lot of these foods already, consumers might not see a big impact in the grocery stores, but there will be less domestically grown fruits and vegetables,” she said.

It is still unclear how Trump’s mass deportation plan will affect farm workers. CBS News reached out to the White House for comment, and it reiterated the president’s commitment to “deporting migrant criminals.”

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