Impact of Immigration Enforcement on Farming

Given that immigrants are an important source of labor for agriculture, immigration reforms have raised concerns about a shortage of labor in the U.S. agriculture. UGA agricultural and applied economists found robust evidence that immigration enforcement efforts by county authorities have reduced immigrant presence in certain counties. They also find evidence that wages of farm workers, general patterns of labor use in farms and farm profitability may have been affected in a manner consistent with labor shortages. This study sheds light on the linkages between immigration laws and their impact on the U.S. agricultural labor supply, wages and farm productivity. The evidence suggests that farmers that reside in counties that signed 287(g) agreements, which allow federal authorities to enter into agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies for purposes of immigration enforcement, may have been negatively affected. This study suggests that immigration reform needs to be conducted in a way that maintains legality and political feasibility, but tools that protect farmers can be explored.