Scores of immigrant farm workers in the U.S. are avoiding work after President Trump removed "sensitive area" protections amid his immigration crackdown.

Around 75% of immigrant farm workers in Bakersfield, California, ditched their shifts after Trump ramped up his threats by removing protections against ICE raids in “sensitive areas,” including schools and workplaces.

  • @418_im_a_teapot
    50•11 days ago

    I’m torn.

    Obviously taking advantage of cheap, desperate labor to maximize profit is wrong.

    On the other hand, the whole thing feels like a deliberate act by the ruling class to turn the working class against each other. I’m hesitant to hate on farmers when billionaires are also suppressing wages so harshly all of society.

    • @teamevil
      38•11 days ago

      I’m more raging against the corporations that have no problem benefiting off undocumented workers, underpaying and exploiting.

      Any individual farmer out there is trying to stay afloat is competing with John Deere and Monsanto already

    • @grueEnglish
      26•11 days ago

      Nothing to be torn about: there are no “farmers” anymore, just Big Ag (Tyson, General Mills, Bayer (formerly Monsanto), etc.).

      • @Podunk
        16•11 days ago

        I had no idea im not a farmer anymore.

        Now what should i do with all these cows and corn?

        • @grueEnglish
          2•11 days ago

          Are you genuinely independent, selling your produce at roadside stands/farmer’s markets/directly to restaurants/etc., or are you under the thumb of Big Ag anyway* even though you aren’t literally an employee of them?

          When I claim that the vast majority of people who call themselves “farmers” these days are in the latter situation, am I wrong?

          (* Yes I know that’s about chickens, not beef or corn. Are you gonna tell me the agribusinesses concerned with those crops don’t have similar issues?)