US EditionHow Fear Of Trump's Immigration Blitz Is Changing Life In California Farm Towns
Fear of deportation is causing labor shortages in California's Central Valley, threatening a $60 billion agricultural industry that supplies three-fourths of U.S. fruits and nuts, officials say.
- This year, the deportation program pledged by the second Trump administration disrupts harvest labor in California's Central Valley, threatening the $450 million agricultural industry that relies on migrant and undocumented farmworkers.
- Amid social-media rumors and visible patrols, unmarked vans and county probation officers in green fatigues with shaky TikToks spooked workers into hiding, while H-2A visa costs limit growers’ replacements this year.
- Federal labor officials warned that losing farmworkers could threaten the nation’s food supply, as Firebaugh’s taxable transactions fell 21% in Q2 and weekly distributions rose from about 50 to 150 families.
- Ben Gallegos said Firebaugh city services face cuts as scared workers avoid public life, hurting local restaurants and stores while farmworkers including Raul weigh staying or self-deporting this year.
- Experts caution combined trade, climate, water and workforce shifts could trigger rapid change in the California agricultural sector, while if trends continue, 2025 may see a U.S. immigrant population decline intensifying labor strain.
14 Articles
14 Articles
How fear of Trump’s immigration blitz is changing life in California farm towns
Trailing in the shade of a tractor-pulled harvester, a small huddle of people in broad hats trawl the ochre rows of a green field. Every six or so feet, someone squats down and pulls into the morning sunlight a bright,…
Miguel D., a Venezuelan, fears deportation from the USA. He documents how this fear dominates his family's daily life.
How Trump’s immigration Blitz Is Changing Life in Firebaugh
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Nigel Duara CalMatters Trailing in the shade of a tractor-pulled harvester, a small huddle of people in broad hats trawl the ochre rows of a green field. Every six or so feet, someone squats down and pulls into the morning sunlight a bright, spotted watermelon. Walking a dozen yards behind this crew of pickers is their supervisor, Raul. He has done this for 21 yea…
How fear of Trump’s immigration blitz is changing life in California farm towns
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for its newsletters. Trailing in the shade of a tractor-pulled harvester, a small huddle of people in broad hats trawl the ochre rows of a green field. Every six or so feet, someone squats down and pulls into the morning sunlight a bright, spotted watermelon. Walking a dozen yards behind this crew of pickers is their supervisor, Raul. He has done this for 21 years, since he was 18. He,…
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