Multiple Texas Farms Shut Down After ‘Almost 100%’ Of Workforce Vanishes Overnight

[HumblePi]

I think the US should have a similar minimum wage to the UK.

The UK minimum wage is £12.21 so whatever that is in dollars.

The federal minimum wage in the United States has remained at $7.25 per hour since 2009, meaning it hasn't been raised in 15 years. That would be fine if housing prices were the same as they were in 2009. That would be 'doable' if gasoline was still $1.87 a gallon as it was in 2008. $7.25 is not a living wage, it's a slave wage. Now we're going to have to find a workforce for agriculture, meat processing plants, and construction. The 'new' white work force in these fields is going to, at the very least, have to receive the minimum wage as required by law. There's no way, no how, these industries will be able to fill the vacancies left open because of ICE raids.

Where I live in Connecticut, the average used median-priced home is selling for around $430k. Rents are even worse, a basic one-bedroom apartment or studio, is renting for $2,500 a month. The average worker can't afford to buy a home or rent an apartment for their family. It's absurd, and nearly 'indecent' that the American worker can't afford to buy a home or rent a decent apartment for a family.

'A 2021 White House study, suggest the wealthiest billionaires in the U.S. paid an average federal individual income tax rate of around 8.2 percent, lower than the average American taxpayer's rate of 13 percent in the same year.' The bill the Republicans are desperate to pass, will only exacerbate the problem of income inequality.

We will end up with poorer, low income people, trying to survive day-to-day by living in crime-riddled co-ops where drug abuse, murder and rape are prevalent. Our economy will fail without people having the money to purchase items they need. All in all, it's a lose-lose situation.

 

[Michael Cole]

My point was that a California problem isn’t necessarily a republicant problem at the federal government level.

My point was the economic impact of farming in the deep red MAGA counties of the San Juaquin Valley. Your point is irrelevant.

 

[Peter]

I know what it means. The socialism and neo-Marxism that the modern American left embraces is just the 'transition phase' into full blown communism

Well, that just complete bollocks.
Even if the dems win the next 50 Presidential elections in total landslides with Republicans getting something stupid like 20% of the vote the US is not going even slightly communist.

It's about as likely as cricket becoming the most popular sport in the US and the NFL going bankrupt.

 

[HumblePi]

And I think you will find that is just liberal bullshit. The left doesnt want anyone deported. In fact, they want millions and millions more imported

That's a lie, and it's been said hundreds of times by many members right here on the forum. Why the hell would anyone 'want' criminals to remain in this country? If an undocumented person commits rape, murder, theft, or whatever, deport him back to his own country. But Jesus Christ Almighty, spare the hard-working, responsible immigrants that help our economy flourish.

 

[Fletch]

The federal minimum wage in the United States has remained at $7.25 per hour since 2009, meaning it hasn't been raised in 15 years. That would be fine if housing prices were the same as they were in 2009. That would be 'doable' if gasoline was still $1.87 a gallon as it was in 2008. $7.25 is not a living wage, it's a slave wage. Now we're going to have to find a workforce for agriculture, meat processing plants, and construction. The 'new' white work force in these fields is going to, at the very least, have to receive the minimum wage as required by law. There's no way, no how, these industries will be able to fill the vacancies left open because of ICE raids.

Where I live in Connecticut, the average used median-priced home is selling for around $430k. Rents are even worse, a basic one-bedroom apartment or studio, is renting for $2,500 a month. The average worker can't afford to buy a home or rent an apartment for their family. It's absurd, and nearly 'indecent' that the American worker can't afford to buy a home or rent a decent apartment for a family.

'A 2021 White House study, suggest the wealthiest billionaires in the U.S. paid an average federal individual income tax rate of around 8.2 percent, lower than the average American taxpayer's rate of 13 percent in the same year.' The bill the Republicans are desperate to pass, will only exacerbate the problem of income inequality.

We will end up with poorer, low income people, trying to survive day-to-day by living in crime-riddled co-ops where drug abuse, murder and rape are prevalent. Our economy will fail without people having the money to purchase items they need. All in all, it's a lose-lose situation.

What sort of wages were the migrants in this story receiving?

 

[HumblePi]

What sort of wages were the migrants in this story receiving?

When you do the research and find out, let us know.

 

[Fletch]

That's a lie, and it's been said hundreds of times by many members right here on the forum. Why the hell would anyone 'want' criminals to remain in this country?

I dont know, but Biden did nothing to get them removed. How come?

If an undocumented person commits rape, murder, theft, or whatever, deport him back to his own country. But Jesus Christ Almighty, spare the hard-working, responsible immigrants that help our economy flourish.

You might have gotten some sympathy for that argument before Biden opened the border and allowed millions to enter.

 

[Lycanthrope]

That's a lie, and it's been said hundreds of times by many members right here on the forum. Why the hell would anyone 'want' criminals to remain in this country? If an undocumented person commits rape, murder, theft, or whatever, deport him back to his own country. But Jesus Christ Almighty, spare the hard-working, responsible immigrants that help our economy flourish.

"Naw - YEW LIBZ wantz da drug dealers and criminals and insane! I KNO becauze Dear Leader told me so!"

 

[HumblePi]

I dont know, but Biden did nothing to get them removed. How come?

You might have gotten some sympathy for that argument before Biden opened the border and allowed millions to enter.

The United States never had open borders. That's a republican and Fox talking point that stuck in your brain. There were never open borders in the United States. Joe Biden followed our immigration laws, and if you didn't like this law, you should have pressured your Republican members of Congress to pass the immigration bill presented by a bipartisan Senate. They almost did, until Trump saw the passing of the bill coming and panicked. It was then that he loudly threatened his House members to trash it. It's all on them, they did this, so Trump could use immigration as a sword for his campaign. And, it sure as hell worked on your head.

 

[Peter]

The United States never had open borders. That's a republican and Fox talking point that stuck in your brain. There were never open borders in the United States. Joe Biden followed our immigration laws, and if you didn't like this law, you should have pressured your Republican members of Congress to pass the immigration bill presented by a bipartisan Senate. They almost did, until Trump saw the passing of the bill coming and panicked. It was then that he loudly threatened his House members to trash it. It's all on them, they did this, so Trump could use immigration as a sword for his campaign. And, it sure as hell worked on your head.

If the US had open borders you wouldn't have needed border patrol staff or even border checkpoints.

That's the situation in the EU between Shengen countries like Germany and France where you can freely cross the border without hindrance.
Has the US even been like that?

 

[Chomsky]

Multiple Texas Farms Shut Down After ‘Almost 100%’ Of Workforce Vanishes Overnight https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/multiple-texas-farms-shut-down-after-almost-100-of-workforce-vanishes-overnight/ss-AA1H5GRH?ocid=finance-verthp-feeds#image=1​

View attachment 67577119

In a stunningly swift overnight change, some Texas farm operations had to shut down after losing virtually all of their workforce, an exodus triggered by the increase in immigration raids and increased enforcement. The ripple effects of these raids are the gift that keeps on giving and will be felt nationwide: unpicked crops are now left unharvested, livestock were left untended, and rural economies are on edge.

This story isn't just a tale of woe for Texan farms; it's a warning for American agribusiness, food prices, and the communities that keep food on our plates. So, let's examine what effect these raids have on agriculture, livestock, workers, and the American public.

The Night the Fields Went Silent ©Los Muertos Crew from Pexels
The heart of Texas agriculture skipped a beat when, overnight, "almost 100%" of farm workers failed to show up for work, leaving fields eerily still and machines quiet.

Social media was ablaze with videos and eyewitness accounts, as the hashtag #TexasFarmCrisis went viral, taking the news cycle beyond rural Texas. The sudden mass disappearance left a heavy feeling that something greater than a mere labor standstill was at play, and the repercussions would be astounding.

Why Did the Workforce Vanish? The Reason for the Exodus ©ice gov
The reason is simple: an increase in immigration enforcement, including high-profile ICE raids, shook Texas farm workers to their core. The news filtered fast that workers—regardless of legal status—chose safety over a salary.
Farmers, who had been working with their crews for decades, described the loss as "devastating" and "unprecedented." This is alarming as most farms are founded upon immigrant labor, both legal and illegal, creating a domino effect for the food system as a whole.

View attachment 67577120
Livestock in Limbo: The Hidden Animal Crisis ©cstar55 via Canva
Now, livestock operations take on increased strain. With fewer laborers, animal welfare can suffer, and some farmers will have to sell or transfer herds, disrupting local economies and food chains.
In response, some farmers explore alternative therapies and holistic care, while others experiment with new technology to monitor animal health. The crisis has accelerated changes in livestock management, but this comes with both risks and renewed innovation.
_________________________________________________________

The economies of Texas and California are two of the largest economies in the world, not only in this country. If Texas and California were ranked as independent countries, each would be in the top ten largest economies globally. In 2024, California contributed approximately $4.1 trillion to the U.S. GDP, while Texas contributed about $2.7 trillion. Can everyone see where this is headed?

It's hard for me to feel any compassion for these farmers, as they've been providing illegal employment large scale, notoriously, long term, and they quite likely aided in income tax evasion - including themselves if they haven't paid FICA taxes.

In any other ongoing criminal scam of this nature, it would be RICO qualified.

Any other criminal activity

 

[Chomsky]

That's right. Screw the economy. You'll get over it.

Say what you want, these farmers have done large scale, long-term, notorious, illegal employment. I have no sympathy for them. They likely aided in income tax evasion, and may have committed income tax evasion themselves - if they didn't pay FICA on their employees wages.

Why should it matter what their business is? They're illegal employers, large-scale on-going at that.

 

[Chomsky]

Maybe these farmers should pay better wages

. . . and employment taxes on their workers' pay.

I'm wondering how many farmers are paying their workers off-the-cuff, allowing their workers to evade income taxes? And, allowing themselves to dodge FICA taxes & Unemployment Ins?

 

[Chomsky]

That would place them at a competitive disadvantage.

So, the employers should act illegally? Illegal employment? In the name of "competitive advantage"?

 

[HumblePi]

. . . and employment taxes on their workers' pay.

I'm wondering how many farmers are paying their workers off-the-cuff, allowing their workers to evade income taxes? And, allowing themselves to dodge FICA taxes & Unemployment Ins?

https://itep.org/undocumented-immigrants-taxes-2024/

 

[Chomsky]

So, do I want them deported or do I want them used as a second class stable of servants? And why is the first worse than the second?

I probably don't go as far as you in my desire for deportations, but you are 100% right here. Illegal employment hurts everyone. Literally, everyone. Except of course, the employer.

I'm shocked at how many of my fellow Americans are willing to brush the law aside in the name of expediency.

 

[Chomsky]

Seriously, MAGAs, as you disparagingly call them, voted for the deportations of criminal illegal aliens. Independents and Democrats who have been polled are okay with it too.

If some farm workers are self-deporting, how is it MAGAs responsibility? Instead, it would behoove all to put the blame where it belongs. On those who are employing migrant/farm workers without proper documentation. If the employers need guest workers, they know the drill. They need to apply for seasonal help through the HB-1 Visa program. And if you cared about the workers' welfare so much, you'd be happy that the greedy owners of farms/ranches will have to pay them a decent wage instead a mere pittance under the table that mostly benefits the owners.

Do you ever think these things through before playing the MAGA blame game card?

Ugh, I'm probably going to get eaten by my own here, but despite your "MAGA" defense, you are 100% right in your missive. You describe the illegal farm labour scene well. I'm definitely with you in this.

however, I'm going to withhold on supporting your defending MAGA. Of sorts, that is. Yes, Trump said he would go after criminals. And pretty much all Americans, Left/Right/Center, signed-off on it. But now it's become apparent he is going after many others outside of criminals, and going after them in some extremely despicable ways. So, I won't defend MAGA in this.

 

[Chomsky]

The US wanted food to be as cheap as humanly possible and at the same time farmers make as much profit as possible so you ended up with farmers paying wages so pisspoor that the only people willing to work on them are immigrants.
Enjoy the fast decline of US farming.

American farming will be fine done legally, if the government provides the proper infrastructure and regulation/enforcement.

No other country is blessed with the combination of arable land, climate, knowledge, technology, free-market economy, and agri-business & agri-transport infrastructure the U.S. has.

All that's needed is a proper transition to legal farming.

 

[Peter]

American farming will be fine done legally, if the government provides the proper infrastructure and regulation/enforcement.

No other country is blessed with the combination of arable land, climate, knowledge, technology, free-market economy, and agri-business & agri-transport infrastructure the U.S. has.

All that's needed is a proper transition to legal farming.

While I think UK farms are better we simply don't have the space to farm.
You guys do have the space.

 

[Chomsky]

Weird that you virtuous libs dont demand better pay for migrants. Its almost like you want the permanent underclass (which we all know you do)

*raises hand*

And I'm far from alone.

Maybe we too easily forget this 60's Lib Icon?

Source:

(Wiki) Cesar Chavez

 

[Peter]

And I think you will find that is just liberal bullshit. The left doesnt want anyone deported. In fact, they want millions and millions more imported

Please show where anyone has asked for millions of extra people.

 

[Hamish Howl]

We have little doubt that your MAGA obsession takes up most of your waking hours.

And here you are following me around. Almost like you're obsessed.

 

[Hamish Howl]

Surely the love of Trump is all the sustenance they need?

Well, we're going to find out.

 

[Chomsky]

https://itep.org/undocumented-immigrants-taxes-2024/

Would you be good enough to quote, or otherwise direct me to the relevant part you're citing?

 

[ttwtt78640]

So, the employers should act illegally? Illegal employment? In the name of "competitive advantage"?

I never said should. I’m simply pointing out the reality of taking advantage of lower cost labor.

https://www.axios.com/2025/06/20/trump-immigration-raids-farms