Immigration raids are posing a significant threat to California’s agricultural sector, leaving crops unharvested and farms at risk. Lisa Tate, a sixth-generation farmer in Ventura County, highlights the dire situation.
With around 70% of field workers gone due to recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, she warns that a similar percentage of crops may not be picked and could spoil in just one day. Tate notes that most Americans are unwilling to do this labor, and many farmers are barely making ends meet, leading to fears that some may go out of business entirely.
Many California farms, especially those north of Los Angeles and into the central valley, are feeling the impact of the ICE raids. Two farmers, field supervisors, and several immigrant farmworkers reported that attendance has plummeted.
For instance, a Mexican supervisor preparing for strawberry planting usually manages 300 workers but had only 80 present. Another supervisor noted a drop from 80 to just 17 workers.
The implications of these absenteeism trends are concerning for the food supply chain and agricultural economy. Economists have noted that nearly 80% of farmworkers nationwide are foreign-born, with a significant number in the country illegally.
If they are lost, prices for consumers could rise sharply. California is responsible for more than a third of U.S. vegetables and over three-quarters of fruits and nuts, contributing nearly $60 billion in agricultural sales in 2023.
While community groups indicate that some workers still return to fields despite fears, the atmosphere of terror has taken a toll. Immigrant workers express anxiety about attending work, fearing deportation.
Policies under the Trump administration aimed at immigration enforcement have added to the distress, even affecting documented workers who feel unsafe. Farmers urgently need labor, especially as harvest time approaches.