By Leah Douglas and Ted Hesson, this article delves into the concerns of the U.S. farm industry regarding President-elect Donald Trump's promise of mass deportations. The food supply chain heavily relies on immigrants in the country illegally, and the potential upheaval could have significant consequences.

"Farm Sector at Risk: Trump's Deportation Promise and Its Impact"

Immigration's Impact on the Farm Sector

In Washington, Nov 25 (Reuters), U.S. farm industry groups are anxiously awaiting President-elect Trump's stance on their sector. Nearly half of the nation's approximately 2 million farm workers lack legal status, along with many dairy and meatpacking workers. Trump, a Republican, vowed during his campaign to deport millions of illegal immigrants, a logistically challenging task that critics fear could disrupt U.S. businesses and split families.So far, Trump officials have not committed to any exemptions. Tom Homan, the incoming "border czar," has said immigration enforcement will focus on criminals and those with final deportation orders, but no immigrant will be exempt. This has left the farm industry in a state of uncertainty.David Ortega, a professor of food economics and policy at Michigan State University, warns that mass removal of farm workers would shock the food supply chain and drive up consumer grocery prices. "They're filling critical roles that many U.S.-born workers are either unable or unwilling to perform," he says.

Farm Groups' Concerns and Republican Allies

Farm groups and their Republican allies are encouraged by the incoming administration's focus on criminals. Dave Puglia, president and CEO of Western Growers, representing produce farmers, supports this approach but is concerned about the impacts on the farm sector if a deportation plan targets farmworkers.Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt did not directly address the farmer concerns. She stated that the American people re-elected Trump to implement his campaign promises, like deporting migrant criminals and restoring economic greatness.U.S. Representative John Duarte, a Republican and fourth-generation farmer in California's Central Valley, emphasizes the importance of immigrants in the area. Farms depend on them, and small towns would collapse if they were deported. He calls for the Trump administration to pledge that immigrant workers with no criminal record for five years or longer will not be targeted and explore avenues for permanent legal status.

Legal Options for Farm Labor

Farmers have the H-2A visa program as a legal option for hiring labor. It allows employers to bring in an unlimited number of seasonal workers if there are not enough U.S. workers willing, qualified, and available. The program has grown over time, with 378,000 H-2A positions certified by the Labor Department in 2023, three times more than in 2014. However, this only accounts for about 20% of the nation's farm workers. Many farmers find the visa's wage and housing requirements unaffordable, and others have year-round labor needs that rule out seasonal visas.John Walt Boatright, director of government affairs at the American Farm Bureau Federation, believes farmers and workers would benefit from expanded legal pathways for agricultural laborers. "We need the certainty, reliability, and affordability of a workforce program to continue delivering food from the farm to the table," he says.For decades, farm and worker groups have tried to pass immigration reform to enable more agricultural workers to stay in the U.S., but so far, the legislation has failed.Leon Fresco, an immigration attorney at Holland & Knight, notes that the risk of enforcement against farms is likely low due to the necessity of the workers. "There are significant business interests that want and need agricultural labor," he says.However, for farmworkers, the fear of enforcement creates chronic stress. Mary Jo Dudley, director of the Cornell Farmworker Program, is training workers to know their rights when confronted by immigration officials. Marc Perrone, international president of the United Food and Commercial Workers union representing some meatpacking workers, emphasizes that if there are raids on meatpacking plants, immigration enforcement should take precautions to avoid detaining legally present workers.Edgar Franks, a former farmworker and political director at Familias Unidas por la Justicia in Washington state, sees new energy among workers to organize. "The anxiety and fear are real, but together, we have a better chance to fight back," he says.