112 The Looming Labor Crisis: How Mass Deportations Could Devastate the US Dairy Industry

The U.S. dairy industry is facing tough times as President-elect Trump’s immigration plans could lead to a big drop in its workforce. As many as 80% of workers in some areas are immigrants, and their deportation could cause serious damage to not just the dairy farms but also the communities that rely on them. Bruce, a dairy farmer, highlights the industry’s need for these workers, saying, “We wouldn’t survive without them.” With 51% of the industry’s workforce being immigrants, the work they do is crucial. Trump’s stricter immigration rules raise fears of a $5.8 billion hit to milk sales and a $16 billion loss to the wider economy. Critics  ...