FT: Mass deportation of migrants threatens US agriculture

Photo: Unsplash, February 11, MINSK . The US government's decision to mass deport undocumented migrants could trigger a crisis in US agriculture , according to a report in the Financial Times (FT), as reported by TASS .

The publication notes that the American business community is concerned that US President Donald Trump's immigration reform could have a devastating impact on the country's agricultural sector, which "cannot function without migrant workers." The dairy industry would be hit hardest in this case, as US immigration policy only provides a special visa for seasonal workers harvesting fruits and vegetables, and does not provide such an option for long-term dairy farm workers.

According to Tyler Wentzlaff, a spokesman for the Wisconsin Farm Federation, many undocumented migrants "work on farms for years," making a significant contribution to the economy. "We support deporting criminals, but we need a reliable workforce in Wisconsin," he said. Wisconsin

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John Rosenow added that without migrants, there would be no MILK, cheese, butter, or ice cream. He also doubts that limiting the flow of undocumented immigrants will lead to an increase in the number of "native Americans" employed. According to a Michigan State University economist, approximately 40% of the 2.4 million workers in US agriculture are ineligible to work in the country. "They play an important role that many US-born workers are either unable or unwilling to fulfill," he said, warning that mass deportations could trigger higher food prices.

The Financial Times also cites statistics from the National Council of Agricultural Employers, which show that in 2020, only 337 native-born Americans applied for agricultural jobs . At the time, there were more than 97,600 job openings in the sector.

Trump has previously repeatedly called for a tightening of US immigration policy. After taking office on January 20, Trump signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency on the Mexican border. The US Department of Homeland Security expanded law enforcement powers, allowing them to expedite the deportation of undocumented migrants without an immigration COURT order. Trump also instructed the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security to expand the temporary detention center for migrants at the US base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.