Immigration Raids Threaten Ranch Operations
Rounding up and deporting "the worst of the worst" criminals was not going to impact the economic vitality and labor support for ranching and farming operations. But agricultural advocate organizations warn that U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in several key cattle ranching states could cause significant problems for staffing that relies on legal, temporary workers.
In recent weeks, federal agents have targeted operations in Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma, according to the organizations that represent cattle ranchers.
Three groups issued a joint statement in response:
"The Kansas Livestock Association, Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association and Texas Cattle Feeders Association are closely monitoring reported U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity affecting agricultural communities in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas.
Our organizations respect the responsibility of federal agencies to enforce the law. At the same time, cattle producers, feedyards, dairies, livestock markets, processors, and other rural businesses depend on a stable workforce to care for animals, protect food safety, and keep the supply chains operating. Sudden workforce disruptions can create immediate animal-welfare, operational, and economic consequences that extend well beyond an individual business. These ICE operations are having a massive chilling effect on the legal, documented, skilled workers that put beef on the table and keep the cattle supply chain moving. Additionally, these types of disruptions will lead to higher beef prices for consumers."
What Happened During the Kansas ICE Raids?
The ICE activity in southern Kansas drew the attention of U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, a Republican facing now what looks like an increasingly competitive re-election challenge against a Democrat, the Rev. Adam Hamilton.
Kansans have not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in nine decades.
Marshall posted on social media, "When ICE operates in Kansas, it needs to coordinate with our local law enforcement. Our sheriffs and police know these communities better than anyone and working together keeps officers and residents safe."
Hamilton said ICE needs to focus on "serious criminals."
He wrote, "The leaders and law enforcement of Dodge City, Garden City, and Liberal even announced they had no idea what was happening and pleaded for more information from their government. One city commissioner said people are being stopped at random in the street."
The Kansas Reflector reported that the raids rippled through the community. "A meatpacking plant in Liberal delayed its starting hours, the school district in Dodge City encouraged parents to ensure their children's emergency contacts were up-to-date, and area residents scheduled demonstrations to protest the raid," it reported.
The joint letter from the Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas associations pointed out these ramifications from the raids:
"Reported impacts to our organizations throughout the past few days have been:
Thousands of fed cattle slated for shipping to processors now delayed, resulting in millions of dollars in lost revenue and additional costs.
Workforce disruptions at numerous supply chain chokepoints such as feedyards, dairies, processors, feed and grain companies, transportation hubs, and community services.
These disruptions come at a time of enhanced focus and pressure on the cattle and beef supply chain. They are a costly and unnecessary impact to cattle producers already suffering from unwelcome political interference to both the markets as well as the physical supply chain. Frustratingly, the harm these actions cause to cattle producers last for days and weeks after such operations conclude.
We urge federal officials to conduct enforcement actions in a lawful, orderly, and transparent manner; respect due process; and communicate clearly with affected employers and communities."
Removing and blocking entry for undocumented and temporary legal immigrants has been a priority for the Trump administration in its second term.
