Democratic lawmakers have expressed apprehension regarding the potential impact of President Trump's proposed mass deportation initiative on American farms. A significant portion of the agricultural workforce, estimated at around 40% by the U.S. Department of Labor, consists of undocumented workers. This has raised questions about who will fill these roles, particularly in demanding weather conditions, should deportations occur on a large scale.
During Brooke Rollins' confirmation hearing for the position of Agriculture Secretary, senators questioned her on this issue. Senator Dick Durbin directly asked if the administration planned to conduct raids on farms targeting immigrant workers. Rollins affirmed her support for the President's vision of border security and deportations but also pledged to protect American farmers and ranchers. However, she couldn't provide specific answers regarding potential farm raids, stating she hadn't been involved in the President's current plan.
Other Democratic senators, including Peter Welch and Adam Schiff, shared similar concerns. They acknowledged the need to address public safety threats but emphasized the difficulty of finding American workers willing to perform the physically demanding labor involved in agriculture. Schiff specifically pointed to California, where an estimated half of the farm workforce is undocumented, and questioned how farms would operate if a large portion of their labor force was removed. Rollins committed to collaborating with the committee and the Labor Department to address these challenges.
Beyond the labor issue, concerns were also raised about the potential impact of Trump's proposed tariffs on farmers. Previous tariffs imposed during his first term led to retaliatory tariffs from China, resulting in significant financial losses for American farmers and necessitating government aid. Senator Elissa Slotkin expressed anxiety about the potential negative consequences of new tariffs on the agricultural sector. Rollins assured the committee that she would prioritize the interests of agricultural communities in discussions regarding tariffs.
Rollins, who previously served in the Trump administration and co-founded the America First Policy Institute, is awaiting confirmation as Agriculture Secretary. This role encompasses a broad range of responsibilities, from farm management and nutrition programs to forestry, food safety, rural development, and agricultural research.
