Recently, President Donald Trump announced measures akin to amnesty for undocumented workers in the agriculture and hospitality sectors. However, by shielding those who violate immigration laws, Trump’s decision poses a threat to businesses that adhere to the rules and hire legal workers.
“Our great farmers and individuals in the hotel and leisure industry are saying that positive immigration policies are essential to keep workers from clocking long hours. I stated in a social media post. “In many instances, criminals are entering America due to Biden’s ill-conceived Open Borders policy. This is unacceptable. We need to protect our farmers while ensuring that criminals are expelled from our country. Change is approaching!”
He subsequently expanded on his remarks during a press conference.
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“[Farmers] have excellent workers who have been with them for 20 years. They might not be citizens, but they are invaluable. …We can’t just uproot them and send them back, as they’ve likely integrated into the community,” he added.
The Washington Post reported that “Three sources familiar with the administration’s immigration policy state that no such policy changes are currently in motion.” Both Tom Homan from the border region and Christa Noem from the Department of Homeland Security affirmed that immigration enforcement will persist. According to NPR.
Nonetheless, Trump’s remarks generated swift backlash from his supporters, who expected a rigorous deportation policy instead of broad exemptions.. In reaction, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins took to X to post: “Disregard the clamor from the fake news media and detractors trying to divide us. I wholeheartedly support President Trump’s immigration agenda, planted in an America First framework.”
Rollins remarked, “Serious disruptions in our food supply will adversely affect Americans,” but the administration is “prioritizing deportations in a manner that drives us forward.”
However, her message resonates with Americans weary of seeing their sovereignty auctioned off while small operations struggle to thrive. In a reply to Rollins, Meriweather Farms voiced frustration, asserting that Trump’s decision benefits an industry that leaves small businesses unable to compete. “We’re fed up with prioritizing larger industries over smaller operations,” stated Meriwether Farm. They said.
“We only employ U.S. citizens on our farms and in meat processing plants,” said Meriweather Farm. In separate posts, they added, “All full-time employees receive healthcare benefits, enabling us to work efficiently. Through diversification, most small businesses like ours rely on local families, hire community members, or occasionally utilize legal and seasonal visa programs.”
“The recent directives from the Department of Homeland Security regarding ICE actions will primarily benefit large Packers and Big Ag who exploit undocumented labor. We are genuine supporters of President Trump and his initiatives for this nation,” Meriweather continued. The message seems to refer to internal guidance reported by The New York Times, which instructed local enforcement not to conduct “enforcement activities at agricultural worksites, including aquaculture and meat packing plants, restaurants, and hotels.”
“If USDA leadership genuinely cares about preserving agriculture, they shouldn’t depend on information from businesses that overlook small operators like us,” Meriweather added. “We stand ready and eager to collaborate with the Trump administration on immigration strategies that safeguard small, independent producers.”
Proponents of Trump’s proposed amnesty-like initiatives often cite research warning of chaos if the agricultural labor supply is suddenly diminished. According to a report by Diane E. Charlton at the American Enterprise Institute: “A decline in the availability of immigrant labor in agriculture will escalate labor costs and ultimately foster new technological innovations to enhance farm labor efficiency, including machinery capable of harvesting delicate fruits and vegetables.”
“In the short term, any increase in production costs for fresh fruits, vegetables, and other goods will result in decreased domestic output, heightened import levels, diminished consumer choices, and increased food prices.”
However, “economic efficiency” cannot come at the cost of state sovereignty and adherence to the law. Americans should not expect to trade enforcement of immigration laws for slightly cheaper produce harvested by undocumented laborers exploited by large companies.
If maintaining a sovereign state means paying a bit more for food cultivated and picked by Americans, then it’s a price worth paying.
Brianna Lyman is a federalist election correspondent. She graduated from Fordham University with a degree in International Politics and Economics. Her work has appeared in Newsmax, Fox News, Fox Business, and RealClearPolitics. X: Follow Brianna @Briannalyman2
Source: thefederalist.com