What Specialty Crop Advocates Are Saying About the Latest ICE Raids
Recent raids conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have everyone talking, especially those in agriculture. Farmworkers have been a target amid the ICE raids. Our sister site Growing Produce reached out to ag industry associations for their take on what’s going on.
Some of the questions our editors are asking include: What are you hearing from your members about their concerns? What kind of impact are these raids actually having on growers? What kind of advocacy would be most effective when it comes to labor security?
Here is some of the feedback we’ve received so far:
Bryan Little, Senior Director of Policy Advocacy, California Farm Bureau
“Farm employees are not just workers — they are partners in this industry. They are people with families, dreams, and an incredible work ethic that keeps food on tables across America. We understand the uncertainty some might feel right now, and we want to be absolutely clear: California’s farmers stand with you. We respect you. We value you. And we will do everything in our power to ensure that agriculture remains a place where you are safe and supported.
“With one-third of the nation’s agricultural workforce located in California, farm employees play an indispensable role in food production. These skilled workers plant, cultivate, and harvest the crops that make California the leading producer of fruits, vegetables, and nuts in the U.S.
“Without these employees, crops would go unharvested, rural businesses would suffer, and food prices could rise for families across the country. This is not just a farm issue — it’s a food security issue, an economic issue, and a community issue.”
International Fresh Produce Association
“The fresh produce industry depends on workforce stability to meet consumer demand for fresh, nutritious food. Without domestic and H-2A workers, we risk our ability to get billions of dollars worth of crops out of the field and into the supply chain.
“For years, ongoing labor shortages and policy inertia have threatened our industry’s operational continuity. The recent enforcement efforts targeting ag laborers, who are essential to day-to-day farm work, place added strain on an already fragile workforce.
“These disruptive actions ripple through the entire supply chain and jeopardize the long-term resilience of U.S. fruit and vegetable production. Now is the time to solve these critical labor shortages and we commend President Trump, Secretary Rollins, and House and Senate leaders for demonstrating a willingness to take actions that support, rather than hinder, American farmers.”
To that end, IFPA is encouraging the administration to prioritize actions that strengthen the supply chain, including:
Revise the AEWR Calculation
Work with the National Agricultural Statistics Service to adjust the Farm Labor Survey methodology to ensure AEWR reflects actual market wages by focusing on base wages rather than inflated averages that include bonuses and overtime.
Streamline the H-2A Process
Reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies and processing delays that create uncertainty for growers relying on the program.
Establish a Federal Agricultural Workforce Liaison
Improve coordination between the Department of Labor and USDA to ensure policies support, rather than hinder, American farmers.
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins spoke about the ICE raids on farms in front of the House Ag Committee last week. “To ensure that we are doing everything we can to make sure that these farmers and ranchers have the labor that they need. So, the President is hyper-focused on understanding the challenges currently at hand but please note we are in daily contact about how to solve for that quickly.”
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