Ag labor enforcement

It is difficult to find sector by sector analysis of ICE raids on employers. Here is a link passed on by a Fresh Talk reader and Fresh Produce Discussion Group member describing overall employer actions during the past several years. Here in the newsroom and the discussion board, we were trying to recall the produce-related immigration enforcement actions publicized in the past ten years.

In the absence of hard numbers, one Fresh Produce discussion group member had this thought:

I've long been curious because my perception is that is a lot less politically and logistically problematic to raid workers in open fields and warehouse type factories than to raid half of the hotels in Las Vegas without disturbing customers, among other things. However, without the figures, don't know if in fact, the agricultural and food industries are or have been easy pickings.


TK: Our reader, Luis, makes an interesting point. Agriculture fields and agribusiness facilities appear to be easier targets than high-rise hotels, casinos or other venues in the hospitality biz. Is this apparent enforcement bias supported by fact? I'll put a call into ICE and see if they can elaborate.