By Staff Writer

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, agriculture industry groups are urgently calling for a reprieve for the millions of immigrant workers who form the backbone of America’s farming and food supply system. With the incoming administration’s vow to enforce mass deportations, farm advocates fear a drastic disruption to an already strained labor force, which relies heavily on workers without legal status.

According to the U.S. Departments of Labor and Agriculture, nearly half of the nation’s approximately 2 million farm workers are believed to be undocumented. The dairy, meatpacking, and crop farming industries are particularly dependent on this workforce, which is often employed in harsh conditions for low wages but crucial to the nation’s food production.

“The threat of mass deportations could unravel the very fabric of our agricultural industry,” said Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, in a statement. “Our farmers and ranchers simply cannot survive without this essential labor force.”

The farming sector’s dependence on immigrant workers has been a long-standing issue, with many laborers migrating to the U.S. from countries like Mexico and Central America in search of better economic opportunities. Despite their critical role in maintaining food production and processing, undocumented workers are often employed in a legal gray area, with limited protections and frequent exploitation.

The Trump administration’s plan to crack down on illegal immigration by ramping up deportations has alarmed farm organizations, who argue that the nation’s food security could be jeopardized if the majority of their workforce is removed. For example, fruit and vegetable harvesting, often requiring seasonal labor, would halt without a sufficient workforce. Similarly, meatpacking plants employing many undocumented workers could face severe labor shortages.

“We’re not asking for amnesty,” said Frank Gasperini, the National Council of Agricultural Employers executive director. “We’re simply asking for a solution that ensures we can continue feeding the American people without risking the livelihoods of farmers and their workers.”

In addition to labor shortages, the agricultural industry is already grappling with rising production costs, fluctuating market conditions, and environmental challenges. The potential loss of a large number of workers could force farms to shut down or scale back operations, resulting in reduced food supplies and higher prices for consumers.

While some lawmakers have proposed measures to address the situation, such as offering a pathway to legal status for certain agricultural workers, a comprehensive immigration reform bill remains stalled in Congress.

The farm industry groups are calling on President-elect Trump to consider the severe economic and social consequences that mass deportations could bring to rural communities, where agriculture plays a critical role in local economies. They are urging the new administration to explore alternative solutions, such as expanding the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program or creating a more permanent status for farm workers.

“The American agricultural sector is built on the hard work of immigrant labor, and we cannot afford to lose that workforce,” Duvall added. “We need leadership recognizing the importance of keeping our food system stable and our workers protected.”

As the nation awaits the incoming administration’s next steps, the agricultural community remains hopeful that President-elect Trump will address their concerns and find a way to balance immigration enforcement with the realities of a food system reliant on immigrant labor.

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