"The federal budget allocated a record-setting $170 billion for immigration enforcement. The money is set to go toward expanding detention facilities and hiring new agents for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. After pledging in June to protect the agriculture industry from crackdowns, President Trump reversed course a few days later. Now, as California's annual grape harvest begins, the state's wine community is on edge."
"The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that undocumented immigrants make up more than half of California's agricultural workforce. "We largely haven't seen many large-scale farming operations hit yet, but it's only a matter of time before they do that," said Michael Kaiser, vice president of WineAmerica in Washington, D.C. To prepare for potential ICE visits, California vintners and growers are hosting workshops for employees, putting up NO TRESSPASSING signs, and keeping their gates locked during business hours."
Federal authorities allocated $170 billion to immigration enforcement, funding expanded detention facilities and new ICE agents. A presidential reversal on protecting agriculture has left the California wine industry anxious as the grape harvest begins. Undocumented workers comprise more than half of the state's agricultural workforce, increasing the risk of widespread labor shortages if enforcement actions escalate. Vintners and growers have held employee workshops, posted NO TRESSPASSING signs, and locked gates to prepare for potential raids. Rural services face strain as Glenn Medical Center's emergency room will close October 21 after funding was pulled. Cal Fire crews are fighting multiple lightning-sparked wildfires in Calaveras, Tuolumne, and Stanislaus counties.
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