Donald Trump’s deportation plan causes ‘panic’ among farmers

President-elect Donald Trump’s deportation plan is causing widespread “panic” among farmers who risk losing staff and business.

Agricultural production will fall between $30 billion and $60 billion if Trump’s signature policy is implemented, according to the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC).

One of the most notable aspects of Trump’s immigration policy has been the deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants. Trump has advocated for the immediate deportation of people who are in the United States illegally, particularly those who have committed crimes.

Restaurant owners and agricultural leaders are calling for a balanced approach that supports businesses and preserves the workforce essential to their survival.

News week has contacted the Trump-Vance transition team for comment.

As the country prepares for massive policy changes, industries that rely on immigrant labor are urging policymakers to consider the far-reaching consequences of mass deportations.

Business leaders, backed by ABIC — a lobbying group focused on immigration policies that support industries dependent on immigrant labor — warn that Trump’s policies could lead to a “massive loss of income”.

Jennifer Tilton Flood, a Maine dairy farmer, called potential mass deportations a “catastrophic nightmare” for the U.S. agricultural industry, particularly the dairy sector, which relies heavily on immigrant labor.

“The idea of ​​mass deportations is frightening and frightening, just on a human level, as it relates to our community,” said Flood, of Flood Brothers Farm. News week during a press call.

“Mass evictions could affect our entire U.S. dairy industry”

She also said it would pose a “catastrophic nightmare” for communities, churches and businesses that rely on migrants.

“Speaking on behalf of farms like mine that are under the control of Customs and Border Protection due to our proximity to an international border, without due diligence, families are at great risk of being broken apart. Much of my team is raising Americans at home, so it’s difficult. There’s a lot of worry and a lot of panic.”

Mass deportations could cost the United States a staggering $315 billion for a one-time effort, according to the American Immigration Council.

The long-term cost of evicting a million people per year could average $88 billion per year, for a total of $967.9 billion over a decade. This would require a vast expansion of detention systems and courts.

Sam Sanchez, owner of Third Coast Hospitality and National Restaurant Association board member, said News week on the call, “If these workers are evicted, restaurants will close, causing massive revenue losses and a significant slowdown in the economy.”

Sanchez, representing 25,000 Illinois restaurants, highlighted the use of undocumented workers in his industry and warned of the economic repercussions of such a policy.

He sounded the alarm about the devastating consequences of mass evictions on American agriculture and the hospitality sector.

“More than 54 percent of our employees are undocumented,” he said. “Many of these people are good, law-abiding citizens who have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic but were not eligible for unemployment benefits.

“We need policies that ensure these essential workers can stay and continue to contribute to our economy.”

Karoline Leavitt, national press secretary for the Trump campaign, previously said News week the new administration will conduct “the largest deportation operation of illegal criminals, drug traffickers, and human traffickers in American history.”

Oscar Silva, a dreamer and spouse of a U.S. citizen who applied for the Keeping Families Together program, responded to a question from News week to the appeal and said: “The prospect of deportation is more than just fear. It is a heavy and constant weight in all of our lives. »

Silvia has been with his wife Natalie since high school and has lived in Texas for 20 years.

“This policy is not only terrifying; it is deeply unfair to people, to people like us, who have done everything possible to create a stable life in the United States. Policies like these do not threaten our future but our peace of mind and our sense of security.”

“Every day my family constantly wonders: What if he was forced to leave? What if we were forced to leave? What if everything we worked for was taken away from us? It’s hard for us to understand why anyone one would want to take this, knowing the impact it would have not only on our family but on our entire community.

Experts previously warned that if Trump’s proposed mass deportation plan is implemented, it could cut the U.S. agricultural workforce by nearly half, posing a serious threat to the dairy industry and d other agricultural sectors.

Currently, undocumented immigrants make up nearly 45 percent of agricultural workers in the United States, or about 950,000 out of approximately 2.2 million agricultural workers. This plan could disrupt essential agricultural operations, creating significant challenges for American farmers who rely heavily on this workforce.

Héctor Quiroga, an immigration lawyer, previously said News week: “If implemented, these mandates would create a massive labor shortage in the United States and make us less competitive in the global marketplace.

“As the country prepares for significant policy changes, business leaders, labor and advocacy groups are calling for a more balanced approach that supports both immigration reform and the economic stability of industries dependent on immigrant labor.”