A group of academics and agriculture professionals came together to talk about migrant labor and food production in a panel last week.
The Latin American, Latino and Caribbean studies department and Dialogue Project hosted the event on April 29, titled “If Not Immigrants, Who? Food labor in the Era of Mass Deportation.” LALACS professor Matthew Garcia, who moderated the event, said it was important because “we rarely think about the question of how we can keep this agricultural economy going without workers.”
“We are seeing mass deportation come into our food system, so I think it’s the ideal time to have this conversation and we have an ideal set of guests to talk about it,” Garcia said.
This comes after federal agents raided a dairy farm in Berkshire, Vt., on April 21, according to WCAX. Eight workers were detained, three of which were deported to Mexico on May 7.
Approximately 45 community members attended the event in Moore Hall.
Georgetown University history professor Mireya Loza and University of Vermont anthropology professor Teresa Mares began by discussing the Bracero program — a midcentury agreement between the United States and Mexico that allowed Mexican workers to enter the United States to work on agricultural contracts.
“I think one of the things that’s kind of important to acknowledge is that immigration has always been forced in some way … to migrate in search of work, this movement has never been voluntary,” Mares said.
Loza noted the exploitative nature of the Bracero program, which was “terminated” by Congress in 1964 due to “severe human rights violations.” During this time period, growers in states like California were learning how to exploit and avoid the Bracero program and its guest worker participants because they could work with contractors who knew how to bring in undocumented labor.
“I think it created this perception that Mexicans are always expendable,” Loza said. “That we don’t have to be integrated into society and that we will forever be outside of society.”
Crossroad Farm owner Phil Mason said he employs three farm workers who are on visas, adding that it has become progressively more difficult to source local workers.
“It has become harder and harder to find a local workforce to work consistently and meet our needs throughout the growing season,” Mason said.
Garcia then turned the conversation to the influence of unions on guest worker policies.
Independent agricultural labor consultant Erik Nicholson, who formerly worked with the union United Farm Workers, said it has been difficult to pass laws to protect undocumented workers or guest workers because of a lack of initiative from politicians.
“Democrats, Republicans equally [said] ‘Nope, we’re not going to do that,’” Nicholson said.
Panelists also discussed the automation of farm work, which may lead to the replacement of guest workers. Mason said that he doesn’t think machinery will be replacing farmworkers at his farm anytime soon.
“If there is that perfect piece of equipment … I don’t think I want it because I think it’s such amazing work to just get out there on your hands and knees in the sun,” he said.
Attendee Camila Sanchez ’27, said she was motivated to attend the event because she has family members who are also immigrants working on farms.
“I think having this conversation is extremely important for understanding not just how we get our food, but also extending empathy and understanding that there are humans working to support their families,” Sanchez said.
