Workflow
Trump's immigration policy pressures American farms
CNBC Televisionยท2025-08-28 18:24

Industry Overview - California's agriculture is the largest state producer and exporter of agricultural products, accounting for over a third of the country's vegetables, fruits, and nuts [1] - The agricultural sector in California is a $49 billion industry [3] Labor Force and Immigration - 75% of farm workers in California are immigrants, and a third are undocumented [2] - Immigrant workers possess decades of skills that are difficult to replicate or automate [5] - The industry faces worker shortages that predate changes in immigration policy [5] - Workers express fear and concern about their safety due to immigration raids, but continue working due to financial necessity [4] Policy and Challenges - The Trump administration believes there is no shortage of American workers and aims to create American jobs while enforcing immigration laws [6] - The Department of Labor is working to streamline the visa process for temporary workers [6] - There is a recognized labor shortage in farm work, which is not a job many people want to do [7]