The continuous enforcement of the Trump administration policy confirms an uncomfortable reality about the American agricultural food industry-without illegal immigrants, the system will not work, at least not in its current form.
Earlier this month, the US federal government briefly issued instructions to the Ministry of Internal Security (DHS), and temporarily stopped immigration and customs raids (ICE) on farms, hotels, restaurants, and food processing facilities, citing concerns about employment deficiency. President Trump personally admitted to a publication on his social media platform that his “very aggressive” policies have long been tearing workers for a long time “almost impossible to replace them.”
After the reflection of the main policy, appeals from the leaders of the agricultural food industry were followed to the Minister of Agriculture, Brock Rollins, and directly to Trump himself, and asked them to reduce ice raids on these workplaces because they will lead to the lack of employees due to the industry’s dependence on the work of migrants.
However, a few days later, the Ministry of National Security reflected the path, with the approval of Trump and the re -calling “the enforcement of immigration on a large scale, carrying shares with no safe areas for industries.” In other words, the workplace raids on farms have returned on farms, food processing facilities, restaurants and hotels – at least at the present time. The agency says it must meet a daily target of 3000 arrests, even if that means resuming implementation in critical industries such as Agri-Food.
White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Minister of Internal Security Christie sleep, who do not want to not exemption or “safe spaces” when it comes to enforcing migration, and securing the main roles in changing the brief exemption in the industry that Trump gave in the field of agriculture and hospitality, and a victory over the rules, which reflected Agris wishes. Through the work of immigrants who are not documented.
Stakeholders in the agricultural food sector, from individual farmers and agricultural trading societies, amazed to the main executives of Food Company, at the heart of the administration, which resulted in the resumption of workplace raids on the farm and food treatment facilities. They say that the raids that were resumed and deported by those who were arrested lead to a shortage of employment, the absence between fearful employees and operational instability.
The US Farms Union (AFBF), which represents family farmers and livestock breeders throughout the United States, is very concerned about the resumption of ice raids, saying they are giving the workforce and can negatively affect the American food supplies.
in Vocal formulation statement On June 17 / he called for a comprehensive reform of migration that addresses border security, provides a legal and stable workforce for farmers and agricultural business, and is updating the current agricultural programs.
US President Donald Trump is traveling in the Southern White House Garden before going up to Marines in Washington, DC, United States, on June 20, 2025. Credit: Stephanie Reynolds/Bloomberg
Nearly 50 % of the United States agricultural food workers appreciate that they lack legal work permit, according to US Agriculture Ministry data (USDA). Farmer workers include the highest percentage of these undocumented migrant workers.
California is the country’s leading food and agriculture country, and according to data from the Ruler’s Office and the University of California, an estimated 50 % or more agricultural food workers are not documented. Industry leaders there are looking for a warning about how ice raids on farms and processing facilities collect food shortages and farms already worse.
The Western Farmers Association, which represents the state’s family farmers, warns that targeting uncomfortable food and agricultural workers not only puts a harvest, but also “the sectors of the largest economy of the state, while leaving many crops unlikely due to lack of labor.”
In addition, California Farm, the largest agricultural food industry organization, warns that labor gaps caused by the deportation of uncomfortable farmers may lead to unproductive crops and decrease through the supply chain, which leads to a lack of prices.
California accounts for more than 50 % of the nation’s production of fruits, nuts and vegetables, and more than a third of vegetables and three quarters of fruits and nuts grow in the United States, according to US Agriculture Ministry data. It is also the leading country in dairy and treatment.
The leaders of the packed food company like Chopani Hamdi Ulukaya spoke against the resumption of ice raids. Ulukaya urges Trump’s administration to reconsider its position, saying in Wall Street MagazineThe World Food Forum in Chicago last week that the country’s food supply chain is threatened by migrant enforcement raids worldwide.
“We need to be very realistic,” Olukaya said in the forum. “We need migration and we need workers for our diet to work.”
Ulukaya is right-and I think the Flip-Flop disaster that actually opens instead of closing the door due to the migration repair that is needed for the agricultural food industry. The American agricultural food system in its current form needs migrant workers to work.
I also think that Trump is aware of this fact, and based on what he was saying recently, it is open to migration repair because it relates to migrant workers in the agricultural food industry.
Also, many Republicans and Democrats in Congress realize that migrant workers are aware of the American agricultural food industry. I think they are also open to immigration relief for farm workers and food.
To address this dependence on the work of migrants honestly, the United States must enact policy reform using a package that looks like this:
the H-2a temporary agricultural visa It is the primary legal path for foreign farmers workers, but it is bureaucratic and costly and excludes jobs throughout the year, such as those in dairy and meat mobilization.
Reform ideas:
Simplify the application process.
Allow jobs throughout the year to qualify.
Provide a path to permanent residence for workers who have a long -term service.
About 50 % (or more) of American farm workers are not documented. These workers make up the backbone of food production, but they live in fear of deportation.
Allowing unrelated workers to earn a legal status through continuous agricultural workers, back checks and paying taxes.
Current visa programs do not explain the unique requirements for preparing food, packaging, packaging and making crops throughout the year.
Reform ideas:
Develop a visa category specifically for the supply chain from AGRI-Food devices, from the farm to processing, to distribution.
Include elastic entry options and work protection.
Immigrant agricultural food workers are subject to exploitation due to their migration.
Reform ideas:
A tie to repair immigration to enforce fair wages, safe working conditions and housing standards.
Protecting those who report violations from revenge or deportation when reporting the violations of work.
Farmers face a shortage of employment, while government visa systems and enforcement agencies often operate in isolation or conflict.
Reform ideas:
Create a national database or record for employment for agricultural foods.
Allowing the states to sponsor or manage temporary work programs based on regional workforce needs.
Encouraging partnerships between the public and private sectors to employ, train and put migrants to work legally.
Let’s face the matter: pretending that the American agricultural food system in its current form can work without the uncomfortable workers is a fantasy.
Hoping that Trump will change his opinion again and exempt agricultural food workers from the application of immigration may not be imagination but foolish because among other things, hope is not a strategy.
Instead, the agricultural food industry and its supporters must focus-do so immediately-on relief and reform of immigration for agricultural food workers, with a focus on both Trump administration and Congress.
It is the best strategy not only for industry but also for consumers and the nation as a whole.
“American food industry needs migrant action – but the system requires reform” was originally created and published Just foodThe brand owned by Globaldata.
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