Trump’s immigration crackdown has made many immigrant farm workers scared to go to work
Lisa Tate is a sixth-generation farmer in Ventura county, California, an area that produces billions of dollars worth of fruit and vegetables each year, much of it hand-picked by immigrants in the US illegally.
Tate knows the farms around her well. And she says she can see with her own eyes how raids carried out by agents from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) in the area’s fields earlier this month, part of Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, have frightened off workers.
“In the fields, I would say 70% of the workers are gone,” she said in an interview. “If 70% of your workforce doesn’t show up, 70% of your crop doesn’t get picked and can go bad in one day. Most Americans don’t want to do this work. Most farmers here are barely breaking even. I fear this has created a tipping point where many will go bust.“
its not even that, backbreaking work will end your career in the field before you can even retire, simply through wear and tear. 25/hr is also abysmally low for that type or work, with little to no benefits, plus there are plenty of other jobs that pays the same or more with less work. are you going to do 12hr/day of backbreaking work.
I already work 12/hr days for little pay. So instead of asking Mexicans why they aren’t picking your food, why don’t you get out there yourself and stop relying on immigrants to feed you?
You should try that farm labor, some fresh air might be good for you.