U.S. Ag Secretary Says 'No Amnesty' For Undocumented Farmworkers

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Tuesday there will be “no amnesty” for undocumented farmworkers, according to Reuters. Rollins said the administration aims for a fully American workforce and suggested that government aid recipients could fill roles held by immigrant workers. At a press conference, Rollins stated that the solution lies in automation, structural reform, and utilizing the millions of able-bodied adults currently enrolled in Medicaid. Most adults on Medicaid are either employed or unable to work due to illness, disability, caregiving responsibilities, or attending school, according to a brief by the health policy organization KFF. The farm sector has warned that mass deportations would disrupt food supply chains.