Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins doubled down on the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement strategy Tuesday, declaring “there will be no amnesty” while proposing that 34 million able-bodied adults on Medicaid could replace deported agricultural workers as the industry shifts toward automation.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Republican governors, Rollins defended the administration’s continued mass deportation efforts, arguing that the combination of Medicaid work requirements, increased automation, and domestic workers would offset labor shortages in agriculture.
“When you think about it, there are 34 million able-bodied adults in our Medicaid program. There are plenty of workers in America, but we just have to make sure we are not compromising today, especially in the context of everything we are thinking about right now,” Rollins said. “So, no amnesty under any circumstances, mass deportations continue, but in a strategic and intentional way, as we move our workforce towards more automation and towards a 100% American workforce.”
Rollins’ comments come as the Trump administration has implemented the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which introduces the first federally mandated work requirements for Medicaid recipients, requiring 80 hours of work, volunteering, or schooling per month for adults aged 19-64.
The agricultural sector is already experiencing significant disruptions from immigration enforcement. Up to 70% of farmworkers have stopped reporting to work following ICE raids across major agricultural states including California, Texas, and Pennsylvania.
The impact has been particularly severe in California, where over 50% of farmworkers are undocumented. In Ventura County, a key region for strawberry, lemon, and avocado production, between 25% and 45% of farmworkers ceased attending work after ICE operations in June 2025.
“When our workforce is afraid, fields go unharvested, packinghouses fall behind, and market supply chains, from local grocery stores to national retailers, are affected,” said Maureen McGuire, CEO of Ventura County’s Farm Bureau.
The U.S. agricultural workforce of 2.6 million people includes 1 million hired workers who are primarily noncitizen immigrants. According to the 2022 National Agricultural Workers Survey, 73% of agricultural workers are Hispanic, and 66% are noncitizen immigrants.
More critically, 42% of agricultural workers lack work authorization, while only 18% report having legal immigration status with work authorization. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that roughly 40% of crop farmworkers lack legal immigration status.
The United States has historically encouraged undocumented immigrants to work due to economic necessity, labor shortages, and the substantial benefits they provide to the economy through tax contributions and job creation. While official policy has often been restrictive, the practical reality has been one of deliberate tolerance driven by agricultural and industrial labor needs.
The United States has a long history of recruiting foreign workers during periods of labor shortage. The Bracero Program, which operated from 1942 to 1964, brought over 4.5 million Mexican workers to the United States to address severe labor shortages during and after World War II. This program established the precedent for importing temporary workers to fill jobs that Americans were unwilling or unable to perform.
During World War II, the U.S. faced an unprecedented labor shortage as American farm workers left the fields to seek higher wages in defense industries or to serve in the military. The Bracero Program was designed to ensure adequate agricultural production to support the war effort, with Mexico providing laborers under specific agreements that included wage protections and working conditions.
When the Bracero Program ended in 1964, it created a void that illegal immigration quickly filled. A Border Patrol official had warned that if the program was “repealed or a restriction placed on the number of Braceros allowed to enter the United States, we can look forward to a large increase in the number of illegal alien entrants”. This prediction proved accurate, as the termination of legal guest worker programs contributed directly to increased undocumented immigration.
Despite their undocumented status, these workers have become integral to the U.S. economy and tax system. In 2022, undocumented immigrants paid $96.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes. This includes:
- $25.7 billion in Social Security taxes
- $6.4 billion in Medicare taxes
- $37.3 billion in state and local taxes
Undocumented immigrants paid an effective federal income tax rate of 5.27% in 2022, which was higher than some of the wealthiest Americans and 55 mega corporations.
The creation of the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) system in 1996 represents a deliberate policy choice to encourage tax compliance among undocumented workers. The IRS created ITINs to allow foreign nationals and other individuals who are not eligible for a Social Security number to comply with U.S. tax laws.
As of December 31, 2022, the IRS had issued 26 million ITINs since the program’s inception, with more than 5.8 million active ITINs. This system allows undocumented immigrants to file taxes legally while maintaining their undocumented status, creating a parallel system that acknowledges their economic participation.
American employers have become heavily dependent on undocumented workers in key industries. Undocumented immigrants make up 25% of all farm workers in the US, 19% of maintenance workers, 17% of construction workers, and 12% of food preparation workers. These workers often perform physically demanding jobs that native-born Americans are reluctant to take.
Restaurant owners report that “100% of eating establishments have undocumented workers in the kitchen” in many cities, with employers stating “You cannot hire American here” for these positions. This reflects the reality that certain sectors of the economy have become structurally dependent on undocumented labor.
Undocumented workers provide a substantial subsidy to Social Security and Medicare programs. In 2022, undocumented immigrants contributed approximately $25.7 billion in Social Security taxes, even though they are unable to access retirement benefits unless their immigration status changes.
In 2010, $12 billion more was collected from Social Security payroll taxes of undocumented workers than were paid out in benefits. This represents a direct transfer from undocumented workers to eligible beneficiaries, helping to support the financial stability of these programs.
Rather than just taking jobs, undocumented immigrants actively create employment opportunities. Despite financing and licensing obstacles, undocumented immigrants frequently start their own businesses. Undocumented immigrants can legally start LLCs or C Corporations in the U.S., as they do not need to be residents or citizens to form these business entities. This legal framework allows them to contribute to job creation and economic growth while maintaining their undocumented status.
The economic consequences of removing undocumented workers would be severe. Deporting millions of undocumented workers would shrink the economy by $1.1 to $1.7 trillion, a more devastating contraction than what happened during the 2008 financial crisis. The Center for American Progress estimates that mass deportations could cost the U.S. economy $400 billion to $600 billion annually.
Rollins’ proposal has drawn sharp criticism from labor advocates, health policy experts, and immigration groups who argue it is “unrealistic, dehumanizing, and economically reckless”. Critics point out that many Medicaid recipients are already working, in school, or dealing with disabilities that would make them unsuitable for physically demanding agricultural work.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that 12 million individuals could lose health coverage by 2034 due to the new Medicaid work requirements, with over 3 million potentially losing SNAP benefits.
In recent statements, Trump has suggested considering “a program for undocumented farm workers” that would allow “good, reputable farmers” to take responsibility for their workers. However, Rollins’ Tuesday comments suggest the administration remains committed to its deportation agenda while pushing for technological solutions and domestic workforce development.
The agriculture sector has increasingly turned to automation to address labor shortages. By 2025, over 68% of farms are projected to adopt IoT-based monitoring systems for precision agriculture. Autonomous tractors, robotic harvesters, and AI-powered farm management systems are becoming more common as the industry adapts to labor constraints.
Industry experts note that 68% of large crop farms are already using precision agriculture technology as of December 2024. The development of autonomous grain carts, driverless tractors, and automated spraying systems represents the industry’s push toward reduced dependence on manual labor.
