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John —
California is home to more than 10 million immigrants. They are our neighbors, our coworkers, and our friends. They are also the backbone of our economy. And yes, some are undocumented.
Which is why Trump’s mass deportation agenda isn’t just cruel — it’s an economic disaster in the making.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: ripping millions of people out of the workforce doesn’t just devastate families, it cripples entire industries.
Right now, farms in California’s Central Valley are having trouble harvesting their crops because workers are too afraid to show up for their jobs. Citrus farming has ground to a halt at some farms. Restaurants, construction sites, and small businesses across the state are seeing the same thing — an immediate, severe labor shortage. And families are afraid to go about their lives.
And it won’t stop there. Losing a critical part of our workforce will send shockwaves through the economy:
- Food prices will skyrocket. With fewer workers to harvest and transport crops, grocery store shelves will empty, and families will pay more for basics like fruits, vegetables, and dairy.
- Businesses will suffer. The hospitality, construction, and service industries rely heavily on immigrant workers. Trump’s mass deportations will force closures and layoffs.
- Billions will be lost. The American Immigration Council estimates that conducting mass deportations would cost the federal government approximately $967.9 billion over a decade — harming American families, workers, and small businesses.
I questioned Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Agriculture about these devastating consequences.
How can our farms survive if half of the workforce is deported? She had no plan to address the damage this would cause to our food supply, to California’s economy, or to the millions of families — many with children who are U.S. citizens — who will be torn apart.
Losing a majority of our workforce will not just slow down production. It will raise costs for families nationwide. We’ll see empty grocery store shelves. And beyond the economic implications, we’ll see families torn apart. It’s heartbreaking, John.
Trump and his allies claim these mass deportations are about “removing criminals” and “securing our borders.” But let's be clear: this is a political stunt designed to vilify immigrants.
And here’s the biggest irony: if we actually provided a real pathway to citizenship, our economy would gain billions. Studies show that creating a pathway to citizenship for undocumented workers would increase GDP by $1.7 trillion over the next decade and create over 438,000 new jobs. Immigrants already contribute $79.7 billion in federal taxes and $41 billion in state and local taxes every year — even while being shut out of basic benefits.
This is about power. They want working people — immigrants and non-immigrants alike — fighting each other instead of fighting for fair wages, better jobs, and an economy that works for all of us.
Mass deportations will destroy lives, drive up prices, and send billions in economic losses straight down the drain. We need real immigration reform that protects workers, keeps families together, and strengthens our economy — not another manufactured crisis.
I’m going to fight like hell to make sure California — and our country — both remain a place where people can work hard, build a life, and not live in fear. And I won’t stop calling this what it is: a cynical, cruel, and self-destructive attack on essential workers and their families.
Thank you for reading,
Adam
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