Immigration Enforcement and Farm Labor Disruptions: Survey Evidence from California Agriculture

Zachariah Rutledge and Myat Thida Win

Applied Economics Teaching Resources (AETR), 2026, vol. 8, issue 4

Abstract: California agriculture relies heavily on immigrant labor, particularly in labor-intensive sectors such as fruits, vegetables, grapes, and nursery production, making the sector highly vulnerable to immigration-related labor disruptions. This article examines how immigration enforcement affects farm labor availability and farm operations using original data from the California Farmer Immigration Enforcement Survey, which provides broad coverage across the state’s major agricultural regions. Results show that direct immigration enforcement on farms was rare, but effects from potential off-farm enforcement or indirect effects resulting from general immigration enforcement activity, such as anxiety and fear, were widespread. One in four farmers reported at least one negative consequence, including labor losses, operational disruptions, or heightened worker anxiety. These effects were most pronounced among labor-intensive commodity producers and in coastal production regions. Farmers adapted through a range of strategies, including hiring through farm labor contractors, offering worker retention incentives, using the H-2A program, or reducing production, though adaptation patterns varied across regions and commodity groups. The findings highlight the broader economic consequences of immigration enforcement for agricultural labor markets and underscore the importance of workforce stability for maintaining California’s agricultural productivity.

Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy; Labor and Human Capital (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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