U.S. agriculture is highly reliant on immigrant labor. The USDA reported nearly half of workers lack legal immigration status, with that number reaching higher percentages in states like California. Discussions around potential mass deportations of undocumented immigrants may intensify labor shortages, increase food prices and disrupt the food supply chain.

The reliance on workers who lack legal immigration status is even more pronounced in specific industries, such as dairy farming, where immigrants make up an estimated 50-80% of the workforce. The National Milk Producers Federation predicts mass deportations could lead to a $32 billion economic hit. Milk costs could double if dairy farms lose their workers.
The Guardian’s Cecilia Nowell reports California’s agricultural exports, which totaled $24.7 billion in 2023, could face severe disruption.

The H-2A visa program for temporary agricultural workers currently serves about 300,000 workers annually, far short of what would be needed to replace the nearly 1 million undocumented workers in agriculture. The program also excludes certain sectors like dairy and livestock, further complicating the situation.

Advocates for agricultural reform are pushing for comprehensive immigration policy changes rather than mass deportations. This includes expanding and improving programs like H-2A and addressing the legal status of existing workers to stabilize the workforce.

Read more about the effects of a potential deportation plan here.