Immigrant farmworkers are preparing for mass deportations promised by incoming U.S. President Donald Trump. Many are assigning guardians for their children and attending legal workshops to safeguard their families in case of detention, according to advocacy groups.
Trump, set to take office on Jan. 20, has pledged to deport millions of undocumented immigrants, which could severely impact agriculture, a sector heavily reliant on their labor. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that about half of hired farmworkers lack legal status, and deportations could disrupt food production.
Fear is rising among workers. Sarait Martinez of the Centro Binacional para el Desarrollo Indígena Oaxaqueño in California said there’s been a surge in demand for workshops teaching workers how to handle immigration confrontations and prepare for enforcement. These include assigning temporary guardians for children and securing pay access for families.
The farm industry, especially in California, is concerned. California produces a third of U.S. vegetables and most of its fruits, nuts, and dairy, with 75% of the state’s 400,000 farmworkers being undocumented.
Legal services are scarce in rural areas, putting these workers at greater risk, said Patricia Ortiz of California Rural Legal Assistance. Many farmworkers, including those who speak indigenous languages like Mixteco and Zapoteco, are seeking help with paperwork and passports for U.S.-born children.
Groups like Valley Voices and the Cornell Farmworker Program are expanding immigration workshops and creating rapid response networks to support affected workers.
“We’re working against the clock,” said Mary Jo Dudley of Cornell, noting the urgency of preparing workers for potential raids.
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