Farm Workers Express Fears of ICE Raids

Recent ICE Raids are not only greatly impacting larger cities in a multitude of ways as you may know but also impacting farms here in Southern Oregon. Administration declared earlier this week they would not raid agricultural and leisure industries, but as of today (June 17th) those claims have been repealed.

CBS News Migrant farm workers express fears of ICE raids, June 17th, 4pm

Regardless of citizenship status, there is fear amongst our community-legal citizens are often assumed to be illegal. Fry Family Farm has encouraged our workers to stay away from work, despite this being one of our busiest seasons of the year. However, not everyone as you know, can afford the financial burden of not working. We all have financial goals, and we are all entitled to work towards those goals without fear. Some members of our crew have been with Fry Family Farm for over 15 years-they are a part of our family.

The impact of the ICE raids California will undoubtably have any impact on the supply and price of produce coming from that region. The impact of removing farmers currently living in Southern California that intend to migrate here in the fall for work, will directly impact our valley as well. Who will be harvesting the pears from the orchard for Harry & David’s gift baskets? And our beloved grape vineyard for the myriad of locally grown and produced wine? And if nothing is harvested, then what happens to the product, the cost, and the all the jobs/industry that follow after harvest?

Los Angeles Times, ICE expands immigration raids into California’s agricultural heartland