California Farm Bureau urges common-sense, compassionate approach to immigration enforcement on farms
The California Farm Bureau is closely monitoring the current immigration situation following the Trump administration’s reversal of its earlier decision to pause immigration enforcement actions on farms. This change allows U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to resume operations in agricultural settings.
“To be clear, the California Farm Bureau stands with the men and women who plant, cultivate, harvest and process the crops that make California the leading producer of fruits, vegetables and nuts in the United States,” said Bryan Little, senior director of policy advocacy for the Farm Bureau, which represents more than 26,000 farm and ranch families in the state. “With one-third of the nation’s agricultural workforce located in California, farm employees play an indispensable role in food production.”
Current immigration enforcement activity has caused disruptions to farming operations. While Farm Bureau recognizes the role of immigration enforcement in addressing serious criminal activity, there are concerns about the impact on agricultural employees and production.
“To ensure stability for our farm families and their communities, we must act with both common sense and compassion,” Little said. “It’s important to note that the focus of immigration enforcement should be on the removal of bad actors or lawbreakers, not our valuable and essential farm employees.”
Why a strong workforce is essential to California’s economy:
- “If disruptions in agricultural production occur, rural businesses dependent on the incomes and spending of agricultural employees would suffer,” Little said. “Thousands of employees of ag-adjacent businesses in rural California would suffer, as would the communities where they live, work and shop.”
- Indiscriminate deportations could disrupt California agriculture, rural communities and the broader economy, Little said.
- An unstable workforce could threaten the state’s ability to supply healthy food, create upward pressure on grocery prices for all Americans and jeopardize California's position as the nation’s agricultural leader, Little said.
What the California Farm Bureau is doing to address workforce issues:
- Farm Bureau continues to advocate for practical immigration policies that support both the integrity of the state’s agricultural system and the well-being of the essential workforce that sustains it.
- Little outlined three key priorities for workforce reform:
- Providing earned legal status for current agricultural workers, recognizing their longstanding contributions to U.S. food production.
- Crafting immigration policies that reflect the reality of agriculture in a diverse state like California, where workforce stability is essential to feeding the nation.
- Modernizing the H-2A agricultural visa program to make it more flexible and responsive to the labor needs of farmers and ranchers.
Link to June 13 press release:
- This release was issued prior to the administration’s policy reversal. However, it provides additional context and reiterates California Farm Bureau’s commitment to supporting the agricultural workforce. Read it here
The California Farm Bureau works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of more than 26,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of 5.8 million Farm Bureau members.
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