U.S. farm groups are now seeking exemptions for their workers from President Trump’s promised mass deportations, a stark contradiction to the tough immigration stance many of them supported during the campaign. It’s perhaps surprising that nearly half of the nation’s farm workers lack legal status, along with numerous dairy and meatpacking employees.
Why the sudden change of heart? It’s time to hold everyone to the same standards they’ve advocated and voted for. A friend of mine has diligently tried to recruit local workers, yet has received zero applications over the years. Instead, he has relied on the H2A program with great success. This demonstrates a clear unwillingness among locals to take on these jobs, despite the opportunities.
I, like many of my conservative-leaning friends, want legal immigration. Congress has failed to update our immigration system for years. At least twice, a bipartisan agreement has been obstructed for nothing other than election-year partisanship. Kevin Cramer has stood in the way both times. Once while in Congress and most recently in 2023 as a US Senator. Because of their repeated failure, President-elect Trump has promised to crack down on the matter. It was met with cheers and votes.
We must enforce immigration laws evenly. Farmers should not be granted exceptions for the policies they voted for. Yes, there may be challenges ahead in terms of food supply and prices, but these are the real consequences of the promises made during the campaign—promises that rural communities overwhelmingly supported. If farmers are going to back those policies, they should accept the realities that come with them—without any exceptions.
Hear Tyler’s full take on Afternoons Live with Tyler Axness:
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