US farm workers are living in fear amid immigration raids that could lead to a severe labor shortage. The Central Valley, California’s “bread basket,” supplies a quarter of the nation’s food and produces 40% of its fruits and nuts.
About half of California’s farm workers are undocumented immigrants, making them vulnerable to President Trump’s plan to fast-track mass deportation. Recent US Border Patrol raids in Kern County have sparked fear among these communities.
Immigrant rights groups say the raids have prompted some farmworkers to stay home, reducing the harvesting of produce and other goods. Farmworker Xochilt Nuñez, who has worked 16 years in the fields, expressed her concerns: “It’s not easy to live in fear when we are putting food on your table.”
The United Farm Workers Foundation reported that two union members were detained by Border Patrol after working for over 15 years in the US. The group is urging empathy and action to protect farmworkers’ rights.
To address the issue, organizations like Celebration Nation are setting up daily food drives for farm workers, who often live in fear of being targeted by immigration officials. Immigration attorneys emphasize that people have rights regardless of their status and advise them not to sign anything if arrested.
This story highlights the human impact of immigration policies on vulnerable communities, including farm workers who play a crucial role in feeding the nation.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/US/migrant-farm-workers-high-alert-amid-immigration-raids/story?id=118434172