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Trump’s immigration crackdown has made many immigrant farm workers scared to go to work

Lisa Tate is a sixth-generation farmer in Ventura county, California, an area that produces billions of dollars worth of fruit and vegetables each year, much of it hand-picked by immigrants in the US illegally.

Tate knows the farms around her well. And she says she can see with her own eyes how raids carried out by agents from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) in the area’s fields earlier this month, part of Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, have frightened off workers.

“In the fields, I would say 70% of the workers are gone,” she said in an interview. “If 70% of your workforce doesn’t show up, 70% of your crop doesn’t get picked and can go bad in one day. Most Americans don’t want to do this work. Most farmers here are barely breaking even. I fear this has created a tipping point where many will go bust.“

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[-] NauticalNoodle@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

This is what frustrates me when Liberals start rallying around illegal farm labor and it's "economic benefits." -I think if we're going to have realistic regulations around immigrant labor then the first priority should start with penalizing the farmers (and other employers) that hire the illegal labor because they don't want to pay a reasonable wage or maintain a safe work-environment

[-] chemical_cutthroat@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

I'm on the other side of things. I would much rather pass legislation to make it easier for those that are coming into this country to work to find legal work, meaning they either have an easier time with work visas or they have a better path to naturalization. Punishing farmers (or any industry) rarely punishes those that deserve it. Instead we'll have even more shady practices involving labor, and we'll also see an increase in food costs.

The punishment to the farms should be that people stop buying their products. We can't rely on the government to hand out justice, because that really isn't something they are capable of (as they have proven time and time again). We have to rally together and force these companies to do good or crumble. There has to be a concerted effort from the populace. I understand that may seem impossible, but we are capable of it. Here is an article about recent boycotts that have started to force change in companies: https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/ethicalcampaigns/boycotts/history-successful-boycotts

Unfortunately, it's a slow machine, but it can make a difference. Put pressure on grocery stores that carry items from farms with known labor issues. Contact your local representative about it. Tell your friends and your family. We often make the mistake in thinking that because we know something, everyone else must know it, too, but that isn't the case most of the time. When I tell people about the horrors that Nestle has done, or the fact that Tom Cruise movies fund slavery and torture on a global scale through his close association with Scientology, I often find that people don't know about them. Talk, talk, talk. Don't make yourself into a nuisance, but get some facts together and have them locked and loaded for when the topic comes up.

[-] NauticalNoodle@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

Yes, that sounds very much like a Liberal take.

" Punishing farmers (or any industry) rarely punishes those that deserve it"

When did that last happen?

[-] chemical_cutthroat@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago

Goddamn, another gop cocksucker. Blocked.

[-] NauticalNoodle@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Well, some of the GOP ARE Liberals, although, A few are theocrats. Your loss.

this post was submitted on 01 Jul 2025
502 points (98.3% liked)

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