Republican farmer says immigration raids are decimating his work force
A Republican farmer is urging the Trump administration to halt its anti-immigrant operations, as his business struggles with a massive worker shortage caused by ICE raids occurring across the country.
Shay Myers, the general manager of Idaho’s Owyhee Produce, told ABC News that the farm relies heavily on immigrant workers, most of whom come from Mexico on seasonal work visas.
“Because I am a conservative and a Republican, people assume that I would have a different perspective here,” Myers said. “But this is my reality.”
“I love these people. I love the culture. I love the effort that they make. And ethically, to continue to not fix this problem is absolutely completely wrong. The ethics are wrong. We as Americans try to do the right thing. Let’s do the right thing.”
Mauricio Sol, one of the farm’s seasonal workers, shared his perspective as well. He said the business is receiving fewer applications, despite the hiring process being legal, largely due to the fear fueled by the administration’s policies.
“People are afraid that even when they are legally here, they’re getting arrested for no reason,” Sol said.
Myers added that hiring American workers is simply not a feasible option for the farm.
“We would love to hire people from here. The reality is that we can’t find the numbers of people here. We’re in a rural area, number one. Number two: This is hard work. It is difficult work, and there are lots of people that are not willing to do it.”
A recent report from the Department of Labor highlights that the challenges faced by Myers are reflective of a nationwide issue.
“The near total cessation of the inflow of illegal aliens combined with the lack of an available legal workforce results in significant disruptions to production costs and threatens the stability of domestic food production and prices for U.S. consumers,” the report stated.
“Unless the Department acts immediately to provide a source of stable and lawful labor, this threat will grow as the tools Congress provided in H.R. 1, One Big Beautiful Bill Act, to enhance enforcement of the nation’s immigration laws are deployed.”
James O’Neill, director of legislative affairs for the American Business Immigration Coalition, emphasized the significant impact of mass deportations on the agricultural labor force.
“About 50-60% of the farm labor force is undocumented immigrants. If we were to deport them all overnight, that’s 60% of the workforce gone, meaning 60% of the supply isn’t being met. Without a shift in demand, anyone who understands economics knows that means higher prices for consumers at the grocery store.”
The experiences of Myers, Sol, and others in the agricultural industry underscore the urgent need for comprehensive immigration reform to support both workers and farmers alike.
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/10/republican-farmer-says-immigration-raids-are-decimating-his-work-force/
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