The recent resumption of ICE raids targeting farm workers under the Trump administration has reignited a critical debate about the sustainability of American agriculture’s reliance on illegal and migrant labor. With approximately 2 million farm workers in the U.S., of which nearly half are undocumented and over 80% are foreign-born, the agricultural sector stands at a crossroads. The current system, propped up by low-wage immigrant labor, is not only ethically fraught but also economically vulnerable to disruptions like deportations, labor shortages, and rising costs. To secure a resilient food system, American agriculture must undergo transformative reform, leveraging automation, improving wages and working conditions, rethinking subsidy structures, leveling the competitive playing field, and addressing consumer willingness to pay for sustainably produced food. This article explores the multifaceted approach needed to create an agriculture system that prioritizes fairness, innovation, and self-sufficiency.
The Promise and Challenges of Automation
Automation and robotics offer a pathway to reduce agriculture’s dependence on manual labor, but progress is uneven and faces significant hurdles. Advances in technology, such as robotic harvesters for strawberries and apples, autonomous tractors, and mechanical aids like conveyor belts, are making inroads in addressing labor shortages. For instance, robots equipped with advanced cameras and grippers can now detect and pick ripe fruit with increasing precision, potentially rivaling human efficiency when labor costs reach $30–$35 per hour. These innovations boost productivity and reduce reliance on seasonal workers, with mechanical aids already enhancing hand workers’ efficiency in crops like lettuce and berries.
However, automation is not a panacea. Many crops, such as delicate fruits and vegetables, still require human dexterity to avoid bruising, and the high upfront costs of robotic systems—often prohibitive for small farmers—mean that only large agribusinesses can readily adopt them. In California, where agriculture is a cornerstone of the economy, a ban on certain robotic technologies further complicates adoption, driven by concerns over job displacement and environmental impacts. Overcoming these barriers requires targeted investment in research and development, as well as policies that incentivize automation for smaller farms, such as grants or low-interest loans. A decade-long transition period may be necessary to scale these technologies effectively, but the trajectory is clear: automation must play a central role in reducing reliance on low-wage labor.
Higher Wages and Better Conditions: Attracting American Workers
A key reason farmers rely on migrant labor is the reluctance of American workers to take on grueling, low-paying farm jobs. Historical attempts to replace migrant workers with American labor, such as the 1965 A-TEAM program that recruited high school students, failed due to poor working conditions and inadequate wages. Today, the average hourly wage for farm workers is around $12.27, well below the national average of $21.80, and working conditions remain hazardous, with exposure to pesticides, extreme heat, and minimal benefits like health insurance or paid leave.
Raising wages and improving conditions could attract American workers, particularly in a labor market where unemployment hovers around 5% and millions of working-age individuals are not employed. For example, a farmer in Oregon offering $16 per hour still struggled to find workers, but when he advertised free asparagus for pickers, over a thousand people showed up, suggesting that higher incentives could shift labor dynamics. Programs like the Coalition of Immokalee Workers’ Fair Food Program demonstrate that better wages, safety standards, and worker protections lead to higher retention and satisfaction. California Harvesters, a worker trust, shows that reinvesting profits into benefits and training can make farm work a viable career rather than a last resort.
To make this shift, employers must prioritize fair labor practices, including overtime pay, safe working environments, and access to benefits. States like California and New York, which have ended some agricultural exemptions from labor laws, provide a model for national reform. However, higher wages will increase production costs, which leads to the next critical piece of the puzzle: consumer willingness to pay more for food.
The Trade-Off: Higher Food Prices for a Fairer System
American consumers have long benefited from low food prices, partly due to the exploitation of undocumented workers who are paid below-market wages. A Peterson Institute study estimates that mass deportations could lead to a 10% increase in food prices, reflecting the labor cost increases that would follow a shift away from illegal labor. While this may strain household budgets, it’s worth considering the broader economic trade-offs. Reducing illegal immigration could alleviate pressure on housing markets, where an influx of millions of immigrants annually drives up demand and costs, particularly in rural agricultural communities where farm workers often live in overcrowded, substandard housing. If housing becomes more affordable due to reduced immigration, consumers may have more disposable income to absorb modestly higher food prices.
Public sentiment suggests a growing acceptance of higher food prices if it means a fairer system. One person we talked to argued, “If prices need to start moving up for food, let them. Let the market do its thing. But artificially keeping prices low due to millions of illegal aliens working in harsh conditions isn’t the answer.” Educating consumers about the true cost of food production—both human and economic—could foster support for paying a premium for ethically produced goods, much like the demand for organic or fair-trade products.
Rebalancing Subsidies: Supporting Small Farms Over Agribusiness
The current agricultural subsidy system heavily favors large agribusinesses, which receive the lion’s share of federal support, enabling them to dominate markets and exploit cheap labor to maintain low costs. Small family farms, which often lack the capital to invest in automation or compete with the economies of scale of larger operations, are squeezed out. In 2023, agriculture contributed $1.5 trillion to U.S. GDP, but the benefits are unevenly distributed, with large firms hiring the majority of H-2A workers and leveraging their resources to navigate the program’s complexities.
Redirecting subsidies to prioritize small and medium-sized farms could level the playing field. These farms are more likely to employ local workers and invest in community-focused practices but need financial support to adopt automation or improve wages. Policies could include tax incentives for hiring legal workers, grants for technological upgrades, or loan forgiveness for farms that meet labor and environmental standards. By reducing the subsidy advantage for agribusinesses that rely on illegal hiring practices, the government can incentivize ethical labor practices and foster competition that benefits smaller operations.
Leveling the Playing Field: Cracking Down on Illegal Hiring
Illegal hiring practices give large agribusinesses an unfair advantage, as they exploit undocumented workers who are paid below minimum wage, housed in substandard conditions, and silenced by the threat of deportation. The H-2A visa program, while legal, is also rife with abuses, with reports of forced labor, wage theft, and human trafficking. Enforcing existing labor laws, such as the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA), and increasing oversight of farm labor contractors (FLCs) are critical steps. The Department of Labor’s chronic underfunding has led to inadequate inspections, with three in four investigations of FLCs uncovering violations.
A level playing field requires stricter penalties for employers who hire undocumented workers or violate H-2A regulations, coupled with streamlined legal pathways for hiring American workers. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021, which proposed a pathway to citizenship for undocumented farm workers and reforms to the H-2A program, could serve as a blueprint, though it has stalled in Congress. By ensuring that all farms adhere to fair labor standards, the government can eliminate the cost advantage of illegal hiring and encourage investment in domestic labor and automation.
Additional Reforms: A Holistic Approach
Beyond automation, wages, subsidies, and enforcement, other reforms are essential to create a sustainable agricultural system:
Education and Training Programs: Developing vocational programs to train Americans for modern agricultural jobs, including operating advanced machinery, could attract younger workers to the sector.
Immigration Reform: While reducing reliance on migrant labor is the goal, a reformed H-2A program with stronger protections and a cap on visas could provide a temporary bridge, ensuring labor needs are met legally while automation scales up.
Consumer and Policy Advocacy: Grassroots movements, like the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, show that consumer pressure can drive change. Encouraging buyers to support farms with ethical labor practices can shift market dynamics.
Investment in Infrastructure: Improving rural infrastructure, such as housing and transportation, can make farm work more accessible to American workers, addressing the issue of overcrowded and costly housing for farm workers.
Conclusion: A Path Forward
American agriculture’s reliance on illegal and migrant labor is a relic of an outdated system that exploits vulnerable workers and undermines domestic labor markets. By embracing automation, raising wages, improving working conditions, redirecting subsidies to small farms, and enforcing fair labor practices, the U.S. can build a food system that is both ethical and resilient. While higher food prices may be a short-term consequence, the long-term benefits—more affordable housing, stronger rural economies, and a fairer labor market—justify the trade-off.
I worked the blueberry fields in the South Georgia heat growing up. Many in my family still farm. My uncle uses no illegal labor, all local help. The system’s broken. Time to rethink H-2A, invest in agtech, and build an America First food system that pays Americans fairly.
That… pic.twitter.com/sv6N7qdia3
— TDM (@tldrmorgan) June 15, 2025
As one X user put it, “Time to rethink H-2A, invest in agtech, and build an America First food system that pays Americans fairly.” With political will, consumer support, and strategic investment, American agriculture can chart a new course, ensuring food security and dignity for all workers.