“Fixing a broken system can start in the fields and orchards, but it needs to spread far beyond farm country.” This week marked the introduction of legislation that supports the workers and businesses across the country who put food on our tables and are the foundation of the American economy. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act … Continue reading »
Today's Updates
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Agriculture and Farm Workers
Farm Workforce Modernization Act Charts a Bipartisan Path to the Legalization of Farmworkers
Immigrants Put Food on America’s Table, Grow Our Economy and Turbo-Charge Our Ag Exports Led by Democrat Zoe Lofgren of California and Republican Dan Newhouse of Washington, a bipartisan group of legislators announced today the introduction of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019. They were joined by an array of key Republican and Democratic … Continue reading »
ICYMI: Must Read WSJ Op-Ed on Consequences of Trump Immigration Enforcement on One Small Pennsylvania Town
In a powerful new op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, Dickinson College professor Crispin Sartwell describes how Trump’s indiscriminate deportations are sowing fear, wreaking havoc on the local agricultural economy and sense of community in York Springs, a rural Pennsylvania town. It’s a must read. “Fiestas and Apple Orchards: Small-Town Life Before Trump” is excerpted below and … Continue reading »
Trump Mass Deportation Policy Destabilizing Workers, Farms, and Farming Communities Across the Nation
The Trump Administration’s hastily written, ill-advised executive orders on immigration have had many unintended consequences, including on the tourism industry and across farming communities and the agricultural sector. Over half of all United States farm workers are undocumented, according to the U.S. Department of Labor; over 8 million undocumented immigrants contribute to America’s workforce, according … Continue reading »
New Research: Quotes from Farmers on Why Immigrants and Farm Workers Are So Important to US Businesses, Economy
Quotes from farmers about immigrants here Last week, Democratic Senators Feinstein (CA), Leahy (VT), Bennet (CO), Hirono (HI), and Harris (CA) introduced the Agricultural Worker Program Act, a new piece of legislation designed to protect farm workers from deportation and put them on a path to citizenship. It’s an important proposal for immigrant laborers who do … Continue reading »
Immigrants Contribute to the Economy – 1,500 Economists Say So
Today, nearly 1,500 economists sent a letter to Donald Trump and top Congressional leaders highlighting how immigrants contribute to the economy and urging Congress to pass immigration reform. Economists: immigrants contribute to the economy As the letter said: Immigration is one of America’s significant competitive advantages in the global economy. With the proper and necessary safeguards … Continue reading »
Across the Country, Farmers and Farmworkers Agree Trump's Deportation Agenda Bad For Agriculture
Donald Trump’s mass deportation crackdown is here, rounding up immigrants indiscriminately, arresting those who are clearly not “bad hombres”, and detaining those who have no business being detained. Among other things, his crackdown is bad for agriculture. And, because so much of the agriculture industry relies on the work of undocumented immigrants, everyone who eats should … Continue reading »
ICYMI: “Immigrant Crackdown Worries Food and Construction Industries”
Washington, DC – A new Wall Street Journal piece entitled, “Immigrant Crackdown Worries Food and Construction Industries” reports that the Trump Administration’s decision to crack down on immigration could put American farmers, food companies, and builders at an employee deficit. This piece corroborates the claims made in a New York Times article earlier this month … Continue reading »
As Trump’s Deportation Force Cranks Up, Pro-Trump Farmers Suddenly Very Worried About Their Workers
Donald Trump warned us from the start that he wanted to target all 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US for deportation, but apparently some pro-Trump California farmers profiled in this New York Times piece thought he was all bark and no bite. Now that Trump’s Deportation Force is cranking up — see the tragic story of … Continue reading »
Must-Read: “The Lives Of The Immigrants Who Grow Your Food”
We see their contributions every day, yet they could soon be targeted by the deportation plans of President-elect Donald Trump. Two new pieces lift up backbreaking work of undocumented immigrant farmworkers, who make up as much as 1.75 million of the 2.5 million farmworker population, according to data from the US Department of Labor’s 2012 … Continue reading »