Mar 6, 2025

Rural California concerned about deportation efforts

The U.S. Border Patrol’s rounding-up of migrants at border crossings has generated concern from the California Farm Bureau.

There are reports of agriculture employees not leaving their homes or sending their children to school, according to a California Farm Bureau Advocacy in Action bulletin.

Border Patrol apprehension activities aimed at people with pending deportation orders have generated significant social and traditional media attention, according to the report.

The arrests have also brought concerns in rural California about whether immigration authorities may be focused on agricultural employees, according to the report.

“Initial reports in some social media channels alleged that agricultural employees were being targeted for deportation, and several reports included claims of large numbers of farm employees allegedly detained by authorities,” according to the release. “Some social media channels claimed that nearly half of all farm employees were refusing to work.”

California Farm Bureau received scattered reports of employees declining to work, keeping their children home from school or avoiding leaving their homes, but no specific verification of farms or ranches where work was significantly hampered has been found, according to the release.

The California Farm Bureau issued a statement expressing support for agricultural employee communities.

Additionally, Farm Bureau’s affiliated company, Farm Employers Labor Service, has published resources for agricultural employers to assist them in dealing with potential immigration worksite enforcement and to educate their employees.