California in crisis: Trump threatens to deport workers!

California in crisis: Trump threatens to deport workers!

In California, the situation for migrants without a residence permit is getting worse. The state's dependence on these workers is becoming increasingly evident, as farmers, retirement homes and developers rely heavily on them. Under pressure from Donald Trump, who plans to remove these workers from the state, California's economy could be at significant risk. Large protests, including a conspicuous demonstration in the parking lot of a Home Depot store in Los Angeles, make it clear that many migrants waiting for work there do not have valid residency permits.

The immigration agency ICE has already conducted raids on these parking lots and arrested numerous people. This has caused fear and uncertainty in the Latino community, to which many of the affected migrants belong. Lawyers report that a significant number of migrants pay taxes despite not having a residence permit, further highlighting the economic importance of this group. It is estimated that there are between 1.6 million and 2.7 million illegal immigrants living in California, contributing approximately $152 billion to the state's economic output, or about 5% of GDP.

Consequences for the economy

The effects of a possible mass deportation would be devastating. Especially in agriculture, 86% of workers are foreigners, many of them without a residence permit. California is one of the largest producers of almonds and other agricultural products in the United States. Without these workers, agricultural production could be severely affected, causing food prices to rise. A quarter of U.S. food production comes from the Central Valley, an area that would be particularly hard hit.

A similar dependency is evident in construction and geriatric care. Many construction projects could be delayed or become more costly if illegal workers are no longer available. Migrants also make up a significant portion of the workforce in elder care, with California aging rapidly with a median age of 38 years. This reinforces the need to retain these workers as their absence would create significant gaps.

Fear and resistance

The social mood is tense. Reports of arbitrary checks and threatened raids have increased in recent years. One example is Ernesto Campos, a Bakersfield gardener who was detained because of the color of his skin. Such incidents are fueling concerns in the Latino community, which is feeling increasingly under pressure. Xolit Núñez, an orange picker, describes living in constant fear. According to an immigration lawyer, this has a negative impact on neighborhood structures.

In Los Angeles, demonstrations recently took place under the slogan “Day Without Migrants,” where students even blocked a highway to highlight the economic consequences. According to reports, upcoming major raids in Los Angeles will target people who have recently lost their immigration status. There are an estimated 800,000 undocumented residents in Los Angeles County, highlighting the magnitude of the problem.

Faced with this situation, the city of Los Angeles is launching an information campaign on the rights of migrants and employers to help those affected. Pope Francis has also spoken out and condemned the planned deportations as a violation of human dignity. Lawyers encourage those at risk to know their rights to protect themselves in this most difficult period.