Labor Crisis in the U.S.: The Domino Effect of Mass Deportations
Uncertainty forced many California families to stay home from work in the wake of the new immigration policies implemented by U.S. President, Donald Trump.
Kern County, California, known for its extensive orange crops, woke up this week to a grim reality: empty fields and endangered harvests. Immigration raids conducted by Border Patrol agents in Bakersfield, one of the state's agricultural hubs, have unleashed a crisis that jeopardizes not only day laborers but also the local economy. During surprise operations, federal agents detained workers at gas stations and parking lots.
California, which produces a third of the nation’s agricultural output, depends heavily on immigrant labor, especially during the harvest season. According to a report by the University of California, over 90% of day laborers in the state were born in Mexico, and a significant number lack proper immigration authorization.
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Casey Creamer, president of California Citrus Mutual, expressed his deep concern: “Seventy-five percent of the workers didn't show up the day after the raids. We are in the middle of citrus harvest, and this is a devastating blow to the community and the economy.”
Richard Gearhart, an economist at Cal State, Bakersfield, forecasted the broader economic impact of these raids, comparing it to the shutdown of oil production in the region. “We’re talking about millions of dollars in losses, and the effects won’t be limited to the agricultural sector. This will have a ripple effect throughout the regional economy,” he stated to the CallMatters portal.
The operation, dubbed “Return to Shipper” by Border Patrol, threatens to become a regular occurrence. As agricultural producers scramble to salvage their crops, immigrant workers face an uncertain and precarious future.
Meanwhile, some farmers, particularly those focused on crops like grapes or strawberries, are exploring mechanization to compensate for the labor shortage.
Farms in California suffering the situation. Photo: CalMatters.
However, they acknowledge that such a shift involves significant upfront costs and a steep learning curve.