cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/22437167
Summary
California farmers, many of whom supported Trump, face a potential crisis as his immigration policies threaten mass deportations of undocumented workers, who make up at least half of the state’s 162,000 farm labor force.
Deportations could devastate agriculture, leading to labor shortages, unharvested crops, and rising food prices.
Farmers hope for solutions such as workforce legalization or expanded H-2A guest worker programs, though these have been criticized for exploitation risks.
Historical parallels to programs like “Operation Wetback” and the bracero system highlight possible labor and human rights challenges ahead.
Can I still be one of those farmers that gets paid to not grow things?
Sorry, corporations snapped up all of that land decades ago. It’s criminally corrupt that the government is still paying on that program when the problem was solved so long ago. It’s just theft at this point. The government steals your money to give to corporations.