Donald Trump’s Deportation Plan Causes ‘Panic’ Among Farmers

President-elect Donald Trump’s deportation plan is causing widespread “panic” among farmers at risk of losing staff and business.
Agricultural output will fall between $30 and $60 billion if Trump’s flagship policy is carried out, according to the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC).
One of the most prominent features of Trump’s immigration policy was the removal of millions of undocumented immigrants. Trump advocated for the immediate deportation of individuals who were in the U.S. illegally, particularly those who had committed crimes.
Restaurant owners and agricultural leaders are calling for a balanced approach that supports businesses and preserves the workforce that is critical to their survival.
Newsweek has contacted the Trump-Vance transition team for comment.
As the nation braces for massive policy changes, industries reliant on immigrant labor are urging policymakers to consider the far-reaching consequences of mass deportations.
Business leaders, backed by the ABIC—a lobbying group focused on immigration policies that support industries dependent on immigrant labor—warn that Trump’s policy could result in a “massive loss of revenue.”
Jennifer Tilton Flood, a dairy farmer from Maine, called the potential mass deportations a “catastrophic nightmare” for the U.S. agricultural industry, particularly the dairy sector, which relies heavily on immigrant labor.
“The idea of mass deportations is frightening and scary, just on a humane level, with regards to our community,” Flood, of Flood Brothers Farm, told Newsweek in a press call.
“Mass deportations could affect our entire dairy industry throughout the U.S.”
She also said it would be a “catastrophic nightmare” for communities, churches and businesses that depend on migrants.
“Speaking on behalf of farms like mine that are within the control of Customs and Border Protection due to our proximity to an international border, without due diligence there is a great chance for families to be broken apart. A lot of my team are raising Americans at home, and so it’s tough. There is a lot of concern and there’s a lot of panic.”
Mass deportations could cost the U.S. a staggering $315 billion for a one-time effort, according to the American Immigration Council.
The long-term cost of deporting 1 million people per year could average $88 billion annually, totaling $967.9 billion over a decade. This would require a vast expansion of detention and court systems.
Sam Sanchez, owner of Third Coast Hospitality and a board member of the National Restaurant Association, told Newsweek on the call, “If these workers are deported, restaurants will close, leading to massive losses in revenue and a significant downturn in the economy.”
Sanchez, a representative for 25,000 restaurants in Illinois, emphasized the reliance on undocumented workers in his sector and warned of the economic ripple effects of such a policy.
He sounded the alarm over the devastating consequences of mass deportations on U.S. agriculture and the hospitality sector.
“Over 54% of our employees are undocumented,” he said. “Many of these individuals are good, law-abiding citizens who worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic but were ineligible for unemployment benefits.
“We need policies that ensure these essential workers can stay and continue contributing to our economy.”
Karoline Leavitt, the Trump campaign national press secretary, previously told Newsweek the incoming administration will carry out “the largest deportation operation of illegal criminals, drug dealers and human traffickers in American history.”
Oscar Silva, a Dreamer and spouse of a U.S. citizen who has applied for the Keeping Families Together program, responded to a question from Newsweek on the call and said: “The prospect of deportation is more than just a fear. It’s a constant heavy weight in all of our lives.”
Silvia has been with his wife Natalie since high school and has lived in Texas for 20 years.
“Policy isn’t just terrifying; it’s deeply unfair for people, for people like us, who have done everything possible to create a stable life in the U.S. Policies like these threaten not our future but our peace of mind and sense of security.”
“Every day, my family constantly wonders, What if he’s forced to leave? What if we’re forced to leave? What if everything we’ve worked for is taken from us? It’s hard for us to understand why anyone would want to take that away, knowing the impact it would have not only on our family but our entire community.”
Experts previously warned that if Trump’s proposed mass deportation plan is implemented, it could slash the U.S. agricultural labor force by nearly half, posing a serious threat to the dairy industry and other farming sectors.
Currently, undocumented immigrants make up close to 45 percent of agricultural workers in the U.S.—approximately 950,000 out of an estimated 2.2 million farm laborers. This plan could disrupt essential farm operations, creating significant challenges for American farmers who rely heavily on this workforce.
Héctor Quiroga, an immigration attorney, previously told Newsweek: “If implemented, these mandates would create a huge labor shortage in the U.S. and it would make us less competitive in the global marketplace.
“As the nation braces for significant policy shifts, business leaders, workers and advocacy groups are calling for a more balanced approach that supports both immigration reform and the economic stability of industries dependent on immigrant labor.”