California’s fruit and nut supply in jeopardy as immigration policies tighten

California – As the Trump administration intensifies its crackdown on illegal immigration, California’s farm industry, long dependent on foreign-born labor, is lobbying for legislative measures to ensure a steady workforce for the state’s farms and ranches. Farmers and labor groups are working behind the scenes to address the looming labor shortage exacerbated by new tariffs and mass immigration raids. But a major divide exists over whether the focus should be on protecting the undocumented workers already in the country or expanding the foreign guest worker program.

California is home to more than one-third of the nation’s vegetables and nearly three-quarters of its fruits and nuts. The state relies heavily on immigrant labor, with an estimated 255,700 farmworkers, half of whom are undocumented, according to UC Merced research. Many of these workers have lived in the U.S. for over a decade. Although the state’s farmers increasingly rely on the H-2A visa program to hire temporary foreign workers, the program has been criticized for providing no path to legal residency and for being prone to exploitation.

The issue is urgent for California’s agricultural sector, especially as it has been nearly 40 years since a comprehensive immigration reform bill passed. In 1986, the Immigration Reform and Control Act allowed nearly 3 million immigrants to gain legal status while tightening border security. Now, many farm groups believe it is time for another reset.

The California Farm Bureau and the United Farm Workers union have pushed for reforms that would create a legal path to residency for farmworkers already in the U.S. while also streamlining the H-2A program. In 2019, they supported the bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which would have offered a pathway to legal status for long-time farmworkers and improved worker housing conditions. However, the bill stalled in the Senate due to concerns from the American Farm Bureau Federation and some Republican lawmakers.

As the Trump administration pushes for drastic immigration changes, California’s farming groups see an opportunity to reintroduce comprehensive immigration legislation. Ryan Jacobsen, CEO of the Fresno County Farm Bureau, expressed optimism, saying the current climate may create an opening to resolve issues that have persisted for decades.

However, there is opposition to focusing solely on the H-2A program, especially in California, where the program’s high costs—such as providing housing and a minimum wage of nearly $20 an hour—make it less feasible. Manuel Cunha Jr., president of the Nisei Farmers League, argued that any new guest worker bill must also address the status of undocumented workers already in the U.S. “If you say you’re going to do a guest worker bill before you take care of the people that are here, I will fight that to the bitter end,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the National Council of Agricultural Employers has drafted legislation to make the H-2A program more efficient. The bill aims to expand the types of labor covered under the program and make provisions for year-round employment. However, it does not offer a pathway to legal status, leaving some farmworker advocates concerned.

With the issue of immigration reform remaining contentious in Washington, farming and labor groups continue to debate their strategy moving forward. Some believe that focusing on the existing workforce is key to ensuring long-term stability in the agricultural sector, while others advocate for a larger overhaul of the guest worker system. Regardless of the outcome, California’s farmers and farmworkers are united by one critical goal: maintaining a workforce to continue producing the food that feeds the nation.