USDA Secretary Rollins declares NO AMNESTY for illegal farm workers

By zoeysky // 2025-07-16

Copy

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins declared that there will be no amnesty for illegal farm workers, emphasizing the administration's commitment to maintaining a "100 percent American workforce."
The stance aligns with President Trump's broader immigration policies, but agricultural experts and economists have voiced concerns about potential disruptions to the U.S. food supply chain.
Rollins has suggested that the mobilization of Medicaid recipients could fill in the gap left by deported immigrant workers. She also added that automation can also help replace manual labor in a bid to address potential issues with the country's food supply chain.
Agricultural experts are skeptical because while there have been significant developments in automation, it may not be enough to meet the demands of fruit and vegetable harvesting in the United States.
Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, has also expressed concern about the impact of immigration enforcement on farms and ranches, claiming that the deportation of illegal farm workers could result in "higher grocery prices" for American families.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins had declared that there will be no amnesty for illegal farm workers, emphasizing the administration's commitment to a "100 percent American workforce." She made this announcement during a press conference with Republican governors. While her stance aligns with President Donald Trump's broader immigration policies, it has raised significant concerns among agricultural experts and economists who warn of potential disruptions to the U.S. food supply chain. Rollins also outlined the administration's plan to address the anticipated labor shortage resulting from mass deportations through increased automation and the mobilization of Medicaid recipients. According to the secretary, automation is advancing rapidly and can play a significant role in replacing manual labor. She added that there are at least 34 million able-bodied adults in the Medicaid program who could potentially contribute to the workforce. However, this proposal has been met with skepticism. Agricultural experts argue that while automation is making strides, it is not yet advanced enough to replace the intricate and delicate work required in fruit and vegetable harvesting. Furthermore, a report from the Urban Institute highlighted that most Medicaid recipients are already employed, exempt from work requirements or facing barriers to employment, casting doubt on the feasibility of this solution. Many Medicaid recipients face barriers such as transportation, childcare and health issues, which could hinder their ability to work in the fields.

America's food supply hangs on immigrant labor

The challenges of replacing immigrant labor with domestic workers are not new. In 2011, Georgia enacted a strict immigration law that led to a shortage of over 5,200 farm workers, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in projected losses. Alabama experienced similar difficulties in the same year, with local farmers reporting that American workers lasted only a day in their new roles. These precedents underscore the difficulties Rollins' proposal may face. Moreover, the mass deportation of farm workers could have far-reaching consequences for the U.S. food supply. (Related: Food supply under strain: Major plant closures signal broader challenges for U.S. agriculture and the food supply.) According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), approximately 42 percent of U.S. farm workers are undocumented immigrants, and nearly 70 percent are foreign-born. This reliance on immigrant labor is particularly pronounced in certain regions and sectors of agriculture. Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, expressed concern about the impact of immigration enforcement on farms and ranches. "Without farmworkers, vegetables will be left in the fields, fruit will remain unpicked, and cows will go unmilked," Duvall warned. "The end result is a reduced food supply and higher grocery prices for all of America's families." The administration's focus on curbing farmland purchases by "foreign adversaries," including China, adds another layer of complexity to the issue. Rollins announced that the USDA will terminate agreements and contracts with entities from these countries and is considering executive action to reclaim land owned by Chinese-owned companies like Syngenta and Smithfield Foods. China's Foreign Ministry has criticized the move as "discriminatory," arguing that it politicizes economic and trade issues and deprives certain countries of the right to purchase land and real estate in the United States. This international tension further complicates the agricultural landscape, as foreign investment and ownership have played a role in the U.S. farming sector. Visit FoodCollapse.com for more stories about America's food supply. Watch the video below to learn how the "America First Policy" can help protect American farmers. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

NATURAL NEWS

America's food supply hangs on immigrant labor

More related stories: