How a Second Trump Presidency Could Impact California’s Agricultural Workers

California provides much of the nation’s fruits, nuts and vegetables. A large part of this vital food is harvested by migrant workers, many of whom are undocumented. An estimated 50% of the nation’s 2.4 million agricultural workers lack legal status, but experts believe the percentage is even higher here in California.  If Trump carries out his campaign pledge to implement the “largest deportation program in American history”, it would threaten our workforce and risk a severe disruption to California’s agricultural production and the national food supply.

The exodus of undocumented workers would hit California’s economy hard, with ripple effects felt across American households. In a report by the Guardian, Ana Padilla of the Community and Labor Center at UC Merced said, “Without undocumented immigrant labor, we wouldn’t be able to sustain a food supply at the capacity that we have right now”. This would lead to lower food production, increased prices, and heightened food insecurity, especially at a time when inflation is a pressing issue for many Americans.

Complicating matters further, experts fear that a second Trump administration would roll back recently-passed worker protections, including allowing H-2A visa holders to unionize and the right of undocumented workers to file labor violations. As noted by Padilla, protections like Deferred Action for Labor Enforcement, which offers temporary legal status and work permits to undocumented workers involved in labor investigations, would be on the chopping block. Labor advocates have called these protections ‘transformative’ as they have provided stability, access to better-paying jobs, and protections against retaliation. However, the programs’ discretionary nature makes them vulnerable to policy changes, and a large-scale deportation program proposed by President-elect Trump would definitely threaten them.

In the state capitol, leaders are posturing and pledging support for immigrant workers. Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed special legislative sessions to safeguard “California values,” including protections for immigrant families. Despite the uncertainties, Ag worker advocates have emphasized their commitment to protecting this essential workforce. Antonio De Loera-Brus of the United Farm Workers of America stressed, “Farm workers of all immigration statuses are going to continue feeding America … and they just want to be paid fairly and treated with dignity.”