Trump’s Labor Department Admits Immigration Crackdown Risks ‘Food Shortages Triggered by Supply Shock’

The stunning confession was buried on October 2nd Filing in the Federal Register To explain a new rule that would lower wages under the H-2A visa program, which allows U.S. companies to bring in foreign citizens for temporary agricultural jobs.

like It was first reported by American Prospect“The current and impending labor shortage exacerbated by the near-complete cessation of the influx of illegal aliens, increased enforcement of existing immigration law, and global competitive pressures described below, presents a sufficient risk of food shortages resulting from a supply shock to warrant immediate implementation” of the rule, the Labor Department said.

She added that the shortage of undocumented and documented workers “leads to significant disruptions to production costs and threatens the stability of domestic food production and prices for American consumers.”

Meanwhile, the Labor Department filing also acknowledged that Americans are not willing to replace undocumented farmworkers.

That’s despite a sharp slowdown in the overall labor market in recent months with hiring nearly at a standstill as Trump’s aggressive tariff regime raises costs and creates uncertainty for businesses.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Proc Rollins He pledged that the US agricultural workforce would become “100 percent American” as a result of the immigration crackdown.

But the Department of Labor sees things very differently.

“In addition, the Department does not believe that currently unemployed or marginally employed U.S. workers will make themselves readily available in sufficient numbers to replace significant numbers of aliens who are no longer entering the country, are leaving voluntarily, or are choosing to exit the labor force because of a self-perception of potential deportation based on their illegal entry and status,” the filing in the Federal Register said.

According to the Census Bureau, foreign-born workers made up less than 19% of the U.S. labor force in 2023, but they represented 38% of jobs in agriculture, fishing and forestry. The Federal Register filing indicates the share is higher, with an estimated 42% of the U.S. crop workforce unable to enter the country, facing potential deportation, or leaving the United States.

The Department of Labor also recognized that agricultural work is among the most physically demanding and hazardous occupations in the United States, requiring manual labor, long hours, and exposure to extreme weather.

The department added that its experience with the H-2A visa program shows “the persistent and systematic shortage of sufficient numbers of qualified, competent, and interested American workers to perform the types of work demanded by agricultural employers.”

The Labor Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday. But a senior administration official L said The Washington Post That Trump “strengthens the agricultural workforce and improves H-2A and H-2B visa programs” while also “enforcing the law and prioritizing reform of programs that farmers and ranchers rely on to produce the safest and most productive food supply in the world.”

Amid backlash from the agriculture and hospitality sectors, Trump Pause command For immigration raids on these workers in June but then The face quickly flipped.

The shortage of migrant workers is another headwind hitting the agricultural economy, which has been struggling with low crop prices and high input costs for the past three years.

More recently, Trump’s trade war prompted China to postpone purchases of any US soybeans, prompting farmer groups to plead with the administration to reach a trade deal that would open orders as the harvest season begins.

The Labor Department cited studies that found that even a 10% decline in the agricultural labor force could lead to a 4.2% decline in fruit and vegetable production and a 5.5% decline in farm revenues.

“U.S. agricultural employers need a legal, stable workforce to support their agricultural operations, and continued labor shortages and increases in production costs will only harm U.S. competitiveness, threaten food production, raise consumer prices, and create instability in rural communities,” the filing said.

Global Luck Forum It returns from October 26-27, 2025 in Riyadh. CEOs and global leaders will come together at a dynamic, invitation-only event to shape the future of business. Apply for an invitation.