In the sprawling agricultural fields of California’s Ventura County, a climate of fear has taken hold. A new wave of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, reportedly targeting the very farmworkers who form the backbone of America’s food supply, has left fields empty and communities terrified. The United Farm Workers (UFW), the historic union founded by Cesar Chavez, is now sounding the alarm, blasting the Trump administration’s tactics and demanding an immediate end to the pursuits.
“These raids need to stop,” declared Roman Piñol, National Vice President of the UFW, in a powerful on-the-ground interview. “No one should have to work in fear.”
The urgency comes after horrifying new videos surfaced showing federal agents chasing and even tackling workers through rows of crops, while Customs and Border Protection helicopters circled overhead. These scenes have created a “virtual ghost town” in areas typically bustling with activity, as many of the undocumented workers who perform this essential labor are now too scared to show up for work.
Piñol pointed out the cruel irony of the situation, standing with a crew harvesting radishes destined for Father’s Day barbecues across the country. “That contribution, just having a beautiful celebration this weekend, is not possible without the men and women farmworkers,” he stated, emphasizing that these individuals are valuable members of society, not criminals.
This aggressive enforcement directly contradicts concerns voiced even by President Trump himself, who noted on social media that these policies are taking “very good longtime workers away” from farmers, with jobs that are “almost impossible to replace.” Yet, the administration continues to target the very people feeding the nation—a workforce responsible for growing over a third of America’s vegetables and three-quarters of its fruits and nuts.
The UFW is advocating for a legislative solution, championing the bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act as a way to provide a safe and secure way for workers to participate in the agricultural economy. Until then, they vow to keep fighting for the dignity and rights of the men and women who work in the fields every day.
