Trump Mass Deportation: A Hearty F*ck You to the Agricultural Industry
And here is why....
Alright, let’s dive into a topic that’ll probably piss off a few people but also shed some damn light on what’s really happening in the U.S. agricultural industry. We’re talking about a national deportation ban and what it means for the folks who grow, pick, and process our food—a chunk of which happens to be undocumented workers. Strap in, because this one’s as juicy as a summer peach and as gritty as a field full of lettuce.
Recently a known Trump supporter, commented that a Mass Deportation will not happen. And here is why….
The Big, Dirty Secret of U.S. Agriculture
Here’s a truth bomb: up to 60% of the workers busting their asses in the fields and food processing plants are undocumented. Yep, you read that right. That salad you’re eating, the strawberries you snacked on, even the damn almonds you’re tossing in your smoothie? Chances are, they’ve passed through the hands of someone who’s not here legally.
Now, before anyone starts clutching their pearls about "law and order," let’s get real: these workers are the backbone of our food system. And you’ve got farmers, like those in California’s Central Valley, flat-out admitting that if we deported these people en masse, the whole food system would collapse faster than a souffle in a hurricane.
The Sh*tstorm That Could Happen
Imagine this scenario: a massive national crackdown on undocumented workers. ICE raids on farms, deportation buses rolling out, and fields left empty. Sounds like a dystopian fever dream, right? But it’s not that far-fetched.
Here’s what would go down:
Crops Rotting in the Fields: Farmers can’t hire just anyone to do this work. Picking fruits and vegetables isn’t a cushy office job; it’s grueling, backbreaking, and pays like crap. The average American isn’t lining up to do it. Without workers, crops will rot, and you can kiss your cheap avocados goodbye.
Skyrocketing Food Prices: Supply and demand, baby. With less food being picked and processed, prices will shoot through the roof. That $2 head of lettuce? Try $8. People will start flipping out in grocery aisles like it’s Black Friday.
Farmers Going Bankrupt: Without a reliable workforce, farms won’t survive. Many farmers are already teetering on the edge financially, and losing their workers would shove them right over the cliff.
Increased Food Imports: No workers, no crops, no food. So what’s the U.S. gonna do? Import more from countries where labor is cheaper. The irony is rich: we’d deport people just to pay for food grown by underpaid workers elsewhere.
Economic Ripple Effects: It’s not just farms that’d suffer. Think about the truckers, the grocery stores, the restaurants. When one domino falls, the rest come crashing down.
Why Undocumented Workers Stick Around
Let’s cut the bullshit. These workers aren’t here because they’re trying to "steal jobs." They’re doing the jobs most Americans won’t touch. Farming is seasonal, unpredictable, and brutally hard. Even with unemployment, you won’t see a rush of citizens scrambling to pick grapes in 100-degree heat.
Plus, the agricultural sector has been built—no, engineered—to depend on undocumented labor. For decades, the U.S. turned a blind eye because it worked. Farmers got their crops picked, consumers got cheap food, and the economy kept humming along. But now, the rhetoric has changed, and the people who’ve been holding this industry together are the ones being targeted.
The Case for a National Deportation Ban
A deportation ban isn’t about "rewarding illegal behavior," as some would argue. It’s about not shooting ourselves in the foot.
1. Economic Pragmatism
Farmers have already warned us: deportation means collapse. Are we really willing to gamble with our food security just to "send a message"?
According to a 2017 study by the American Farm Bureau Federation, if the U.S. deported all undocumented agricultural workers, it would result in a loss of $60 billion in agricultural output and spike food prices by up to 6%. And that’s just the start of the economic fallout.
2. Human Decency
These workers aren’t just laborers; they’re people. They have families, communities, and dreams. They’re also paying taxes (yes, even undocumented workers pay billions in taxes annually) and contributing to the economy. Deportation isn’t just cruel; it’s stupid.
3. Keeping the System Afloat
A deportation ban would give farmers breathing room and allow the industry to transition to a more stable labor system—perhaps one that includes better wages, improved conditions, and pathways to legal status for workers.
What’s the Alternative?
Some argue that automation is the future. And sure, machines are making strides in agriculture. But let’s not kid ourselves: there’s no robot out there that can replace the nuanced, skilled work of a human hand—at least not yet. Even if it’s possible someday, it’s decades away and would cost a fortune.
Another argument is to get Americans back in the fields. Yeah, good luck with that. The U.S. tried it in the 1960s with "Operation Wetback," and the result was catastrophic for the agricultural industry. Spoiler alert: history will repeat itself.
Final Thoughts
The idea of deporting undocumented workers might sound great to some politicians or armchair patriots, but the reality is far more complicated. A national deportation ban isn’t just the humane thing to do; it’s the smart thing. Without these workers, the U.S. agricultural industry would be screwed six ways to Sunday. So maybe it’s time to stop demonizing the people who make our food system work and start figuring out how to support them—because without them, we’re all f*cked.
Citations:
"Farm Workers and Immigration." American Farm Bureau Federation, 2017.
"California's Central Valley Farmers Speak Out on Immigration." The Atlantic, 2019.
"The Economic Impact of Removing Unauthorized Immigrant Workers." Center for American Progress, 2020.
"Agriculture's Heavy Reliance on Undocumented Workers." Pew Research Center, 2016.
"Undocumented Immigrants Pay Billions in Taxes." Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, 2019.