Biting the Hand That Feeds Us

“The lettuce and tomato on your hamburger very likely came from California. The almonds and pistachios you snack on as well. There’s a good chance the olive oil on your pasta is from California. Did you pair that with a glass of wine? Probably California, too. This bounty all depends on a reliable, skilled and experienced labor force that is overwhelmingly made up of immigrants … These immigrants are nothing less than the backbone of America’s food supply, doing jobs that few native-born Americans seek. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids targeting them now will have real consequences for all Americans, very likely including higher grocery prices and fewer options in the produce aisle.” NYT (Gift Article): Wilted Lettuce. Rotten Strawberries. Here’s What Happens When You Round Up Farmworkers. “These workers are not strangers, and they’re not a burden on California or the nation. They are part of the fabric of our communities. Many have lived and worked here for decades. Our kids go to school together. We live in the same neighborhoods. We worship in the same churches and shop in the same stores.”

+ Mass deportations are starting to hurt agriculture. (And removing or scaring away hard working members of the community isn’t helping anything.)

+ Meanwhile, Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been detained by ICE in Baltimore just days after he was freed. Now, because he refused to plea guilty, the administration is working to deport him to Uganda.