Despite President Trump’s hard‑line immigration campaign, the agricultural sector has largely avoided mass deportations, but farmers are still worried that the situation may not last.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has carried out sweeping raids across the country, targeting undocumented workers in a range of industries. Agriculture, however, has largely been spared the most aggressive enforcement actions, according to reports.
Farmers in Idaho and elsewhere have voiced unease that future ICE operations could further reduce the already limited labor pool. “We’re concerned that the current situation won’t continue,” one dairyman said, reflecting a broader fear among the farming community.
Many farms depend on seasonal and migrant workers for planting, harvesting, and milking. A shortage of available labor threatens productivity and could disrupt the supply chain that supports the nation’s food system.
While the federal crackdown has not yet significantly disrupted the agricultural workforce, the uncertainty surrounding immigration policy continues to create tension among farmers who rely on this labor force.
Image credit: Natalie Behring/Getty Images
<small>Source: NPR — read the original story there.</small>