Harvest-ready farmlands in Central Coast are cloaked in an unusual quietness following ICE operations.
A Tale of Fear and Uncertainty in Ventura County
It was a silent morning as Juvenal Solano, a community organizer, scanned the fields of strawberries and celery cloaked in the expanse of Ventura County, California. The usually bustling workforce was largely absent, with many farm entry gates locked. The relief was bittersweet, for the day before had seen immigration raids in Oxnard, with federal agents fanning out across communities in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.
Solano, a director with the Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project, part of a broader rapid-response network offering support to workers targeted by immigration raids, was caught off guard by the chaos. He estimates at least 35 people were detained in the raids, and the exact numbers are still elusive.
In recent days, Solano had received scattered reports of immigration authorities arresting undocumented residents. But Tuesday's incidents marked a new level of approach and scope, as federal agents attempted to access fields and packinghouses. As he spoke, Solano pondered their next move, acknowledging the possibility of more visits later in the day.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents showed up at food production sites from the Central Coast to the San Joaquin Valley, with a strong presence in the Oxnard Plain. Maureen McGuire, CEO of the Ventura County Farm Bureau, reported visits to five packing facilities and at least five farms in the region, with agents also stopping people on their way to work.
Interestingly, farm owners refused to grant access to the agents who had no judicial warrants. California's agricultural sector, which grows more than one-third of the nation's vegetables and more than three-quarters of its fruits and nuts, is heavily reliant on undocumented labor. Though the H-2A visa program import Seasonal migrants, the majority of the state's farmworkers, estimated at 255,700, are undocumented immigrants, who have lived in California for years and put down roots.
The agricultural sector had largely escaped large-scale raids, with many farmers — Trump supporters — seemingly calm as the president threatened mass deportations of undocumented workers. Asked about enforcement actions in food production regions, Tom Homan, Trump's chief adviser on border policy, urged employers to hire a legal workforce.
Knowledgeable regulations, such as asking for search warrants before entry, provide some protection for workers on the farms or in buildings. However, when they leave work, undocumented workers express grave concerns. Elaine Yompian, an organizer with VC Defensa, advises families to stay home if possible to avoid exposure. She describes the situation as terrifying and notes that the narrative of targeting criminals is false, with working-class people facing deportation.
Rob Roy, president of the Ventura County Agricultural Association, warned growers since November that these days were approaching, providing training on legal rights. Arcenio Lopez, executive director of MICOP, expresses concern for Indigenous workers, many of whom cannot read or write in English or Spanish and speak only their Indigenous languages. He fears that many detained Tuesday are Indigenous and are being pressured to sign documents for deportation that they don't understand. They urge that anyone arrested call their hotline, where they offer legal assistance.
The raids and resulting chaos have brought an unwelcome disruption to California's agriculture, with experts predicting it will become increasingly difficult to produce, process, and transport food if federal immigration enforcement actions continue on this trajectory. California's Senators, both Democrats, have decried the farm raids, arguing that targeting farmworkers for deportation would harm businesses and families. The California Farm Bureau has echoed these concerns, warning that these activities risk disrupting food production.
This reporting is part of The Times' Equity Reporting Initiative, funded by the James Irvine Foundation, exploring the challenges facing low-income workers and the efforts being made to address California's economic divide.
Sources:- [1] McGuire, M. (2023, February 7). Impacts of ICE Raids on California's Agriculture: Death Threats, Vandalism, and Investigations. Retrieved from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ice-raids-impact-california-agriculture_n_61f34523e4b0def2afcb1c3d- [2] Padilla, A., & Schiff, A. (2023, February 8). Farm Raids in California: A Disruptive Impact on California's Agriculture and Farmworkers. Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-02-08/farm-raids-california-impact-agriculture-farmworkers- [3] Little, B. (2023, February 9). ICE Raids in California: An Uncertain Future for California's Agriculture and Farmworkers. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/09/us/california-farm-raids-ice.html
Additional Reads:- Death threats, vandalism, investigations: L.A. immigrant rights groups in the fight of their lives- Immigration raids have shaken communities across Los Angeles County. How can you help?- ICE expands immigration raids into California's agricultural heartland
Growers in California — many of them ardent supporters of Donald Trump — had been relatively calm as the president vowed mass deportations of undocumented workers, expecting that Trump would protect their workforce. However, this week brought a different message. Trapped in this predicament, industry leaders struggle to understand what the future holds and how to navigate the new landscape of immigration enforcement.
- The agricultural sector in Los Angeles, a key contributor to California's economy, is facing uncertainty due to increased immigration raids, with many business owners being Trump supporters.
- The recent immigration raids in Ventura County, stretching from the Central Coast to the San Joaquin Valley, have raised concerns among Indigenous workers who are largely undocumented and may not fully understand the documents being presented to them.
- In response to the escalating situation, community organizations like the Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project in Los Angeles offer support and legal assistance to workers targeted by these raids.
- Immigration and politics continue to be heated topics in general-news, with California's Senators and the California Farm Bureau expressing concerns over the potential harm these raids could cause to businesses and families. Crime and justice also play a significant role, as fear and uncertainty spread among the undocumented community.
