By Alex Gonzalez
It’s very simple: you can’t have a strong “America First” agenda—especially in the industrial and agricultural sectors—without workers who already have the skills to work the land. Nearly 40% of all agricultural workers in the U.S. are undocumented and have lived in the country for decades. A true “America First” strategy must recognize the essential role these workers play in sustaining the nation’s food supply and economy.
Yesterday, during a cabinet meeting Trump said, on deportations, that “We are going to work with farmers. If they have strong recommendations for their farms for certain people we’re going to let them stay in for a while… we have to take care of our farmers and our hotels and various places where they need the people“
Despite all the rhetoric surrounding “America First” policies, one reality continues to be overlooked: America’s agricultural industry depends heavily on immigrant labor, particularly undocumented workers who have been tending the land for decades. Without them, the foundation of our food system would collapse.
Across rural America—from Iowa and Nebraska to Kansas and beyond—young Americans in their prime working years are leaving small towns for larger cities and wealthier states. They are seeking education, technology, and white-collar job opportunities. Very few are choosing a future in agriculture, an industry that requires long hours, physical labor, and seasonal instability. As a result, farms across the country are struggling with labor shortages that threaten the nation’s food supply and economic stability.
Currently, nearly 40% of all agricultural workers in the United States are undocumented immigrants, and many of them have lived in this country for years, if not decades. They are the people planting, picking, sorting, and packaging the produce that ends up on American tables every day. They are not just workers; they are essential contributors to the nation’s food security and economic strength.
California’s Role in U.S. Agriculture: The Labor Reality Behind the Politics
California alone produces roughly 50% of all the fruits and vegetables consumed in the United States, making it the backbone of America’s agricultural economy. This agricultural output depends heavily on a labor force that is largely undocumented. Estimates suggest that approximately 70% of farmworkers in the state lack legal immigration status. Despite their critical role in the nation’s food supply, these workers often live in vulnerable conditions, working long hours for modest pay without access to basic labor protections.
What’s particularly striking is the political paradox: many of California’s top agricultural counties—those most reliant on undocumented labor—voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. This is the same political movement that has championed aggressive immigration enforcement and mass deportation policies. The contradiction exposes a deeper truth: while anti-immigrant rhetoric may energize political bases, the reality on the ground is that American agriculture simply cannot function without immigrant labor.
If Trump is serious about building a self-reliant, “America First” economy—one that grows its own food and sustains its own people—then it must start by protecting and investing in the labor force that makes it possible. This includes creating pathways to legalization for those already working the land, supporting farmworker families, and acknowledging that food doesn’t come from policies—it comes from people.
Even former President
Trump, known for his harsh immigration rhetoric, has privately acknowledged that deporting farmworkers en masse would be disastrous for American agriculture. The truth is simple: there is no future for farming in America without the people who have been farming it all along.
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Alex Gonzalez is a political Analyst, Founder of Latino Public Policy Foundation (LPPF), and Political Director for Latinos Ready To Vote. Comments to vote@latinosreadytovote.org or @AlexGonzTXCA
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