With the approach of Thanksgiving, when many families will be celebrating with food and gratitude, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on the people who help make Thanksgiving celebrations possible. Many of the fruits, vegetables, and other staples of our Thanksgiving celebrations are harvested by immigrant farm workers.
In fruit and vegetable crop production, 49.6% of the workforce is comprised of immigrants, and 24.3% of the workforce is comprised of undocumented immigrants. These workers play an essential role in our nation’s food supply, yet their futures in the U.S. remain uncertain as the incoming Trump administration rolls out plans for a mass deportation of both undocumented and documented immigrants such as asylum seekers and those with Temporary Protected Status.
The United States is already experiencing a labor shortage in agriculture, which has furthered our reliance on imported food. Fewer undocumented immigrants arriving in recent years helped pushed up labor costs between 2010 and 2019. Meanwhile, the value of U.S. imports in agricultural products rose an average of 3.7% anually from FY2004 to FY2023, adjusting for inflation. In September 2024, the USDA forecasted that agricultural imports would reach $204 billion in FY 2024 and a record $212 billion in FY 2025, accounting for 6% of the value of all imports into the country. Removing a large number of undocumented immigrant workers would only exacerbate the problem, putting U.S. food security at higher risk.
The immigrant workforce in agriculture is already under strain due to changing demographics and the tough nature of the work.
The average age of immigrant crop workers has increased by four years since 2006, now standing at 41.6 years. This trend reflects a significant challenge: fewer young immigrants are entering agricultural jobs. The people who plant and harvest our food are slowly aging out of the job, a trend that will only exacerbate labor shortages.
Furthermore, these are not jobs that tend to favor the aging. These essential crop workers perform long hours of manual labor in extreme heat, with limited access to healthcare. Rising temperatures are making things worse, particularly for those working in southern states. A Council analysis of Department of Labor data found that more than 1 in 7, or 13.7%, of people on H-2A visas for seasonal foreign farm laborers work during months when average local temperatures exceed 90°F (32°C). In Arizona, Georgia, New Mexico, and Texas, over 1 in 4 certified H-2A workers are exposed to these extreme conditions.
Despite these conditions, immigrant farm workers continue to toil in our fields, serving as the backbone of America’s food production. Without their labor, many farms would struggle to produce enough food.
The threat of mass deportations under the current political climate looms large. Undocumented workers make up a sizable portion of the agricultural workforce, and their removal could have devastating consequences. Beyond the immediate impact on farms, such actions could disrupt supply chains, increase food prices, and strain communities that rely on agriculture.
Programs like the H-2A visa system provide temporary relief for labor shortages, but they are not enough to address the root causes of the agricultural workforce crisis. Large scale reform is essential to ensuring a stable and sustainable workforce for America’s farms.
As many of us sit down with loved ones this Thanksgiving, let’s not only give thanks for the food we share but also for the hands that made it possible. Immigrant farm workers are an essential piece of our nation’s agricultural success. Their labor sustains us, and their contributions deserve our recognition and support.