Trump’s mass deportation plan could decimate local agriculture

Editor:

The President-elect has stated that on “Day 1” he will begin massive deportation of undocumented people residing in the United States. This will have a major impact upon Orleans County, particularly agriculture, but more generally the entire economy of our county, because these 2,000 people buy products and services within the county from the wages that they earn. Grocery stores, general stores, auto services, churches and more would be affected.

I would point out that many of the people who are loosely considered “undocumented” are actually “documented” because they have official papers relating to their work or refugee status and have applied for asylum, green cards or citizenship.

The President-elect’s plans for deportation make little distinction between these categories. The farm workers I know are scared out of their wits. Many of them have worked in our area for decades, contributing to a robust agricultural sector, putting food on our tables, filling our churches, and sending their children to our schools.

There may be as many as 2,000 immigrant workers in Orleans County. Has the Orleans County Legislature considered the actual impact of the deportation order that is planned?  I hope it has, because “Day 1” is coming up very fast!

How will area farmers survive without workers? How will they be able to afford the wages that would make this kind of employment attractive to citizens who have shown little interest in this seasonal, hard, low-wage work?

If farms are to survive, the prices for their products will have to be much higher to wholesalers and consumers. Has the Legislature considered what will happen to the price of food if these deportations go forward?  “No farm workers = less food = higher prices” seems like a losing strategy for our county.

I wonder if deportation would push some farm operations over the edge, either by shutting down entirely, or by not planting some or all fields in the spring? Has the Legislature considered what it will do about this?

And who would lead or participate in a deportation effort in Orleans County? The Sherriff’s Department, the local courts, jails or school officials? What would be the cost to the county for this?

As a taxpayer I am shuddering to think of this cost to the county, almost immediately and in the long-run. This looks like an unfunded mandate, the kind of thing that the Legislature likes to pin on Democrats in Albany. Will my local tax bill now break out the cost of deportations in Orleans County?

As you can tell, I am very opposed to deportations on the scale that the President-elect has described. The impact that this will have on Orleans County and its taxpayers will be significant.

Is the Legislature planning for this? Are farmers thinking about this? Does anyone have a plan? “Day 1” is fast approaching!

Sincerely,

James R. Renfrew

Clarendon