The future of American farm labor?
Trump has flip-flopped on deporting workers in the agriculture and hospitality sectors. But his Ag Secretary has it figured out.
“There’s been a lot of noise in the last few days and a lot of questions about where the president stands and his vision for farm labor,” Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told reporters during a press briefing with Republican governors Tuesday.
“Ultimately, the answer on this is automation, also some reform within the current governing structure, and then, also, when you think about there are 34 million able-bodied adults in our Medicaid program, there are plenty of workers in America,” she continued.”
Of course, the cuts don’t start until after the mid-terms, to protect the GOP congressmen from accountability. Meanwhile, ICE is driving out immigrant workers now. Who will pick the produce this summer and next?
What a clown. However much they’re paying Rollins, it’s too much.
Will Medicaid enrollees become farm workers?
Joel, who would have thought Medicaid enrollees would be forced to take farm work? Oh wait, I did a few days ago.
@Mark,
LOL! From my post:
“Of course, the cuts don’t start until after the mid-terms, to protect the GOP congressmen from accountability. Meanwhile, ICE is driving out immigrant workers now. Who will pick the produce this summer and next?”
Did you also answer that question a few days ago?
ICE recently raided a cannabis farm in California. My guess is they are first going after non essential agricultural to send the message without affecting the food supply. And of course California because it is a blue state.
The AG secretary went on to say: but that’s not what’s worrying me, it’s how to do it. These things must be done delicately, or you hurt the spell.
@Mark,
The farm was only partly cannabis. It was also growing produce. All of the production was legal. None of the workers who were kidnapped were gang members or violent criminals. This is only about immiserating immigrants. Even if they don’t raid essential agriculture, it will drive away workers, affecting the food supply. If I were an undocumented worker from Mexico, I’d rather take my chances back in Mexico than being kidnapped to a black site in El Salvador to be tortured for the rest of my life.