"Attention from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement could upend her life more than 23 years after she illegally crossed the U.S.-Mexico border as a teenager. "The worry is they'll pull you over when you're driving and ask for your papers," said Lidia, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition that only her first name be used because of her fears of deportation. "We need to work. We need to feed our families and pay our rent.""
"More than 1.2 million immigrants disappeared from the labor force from January through the end of July, according to preliminary Census Bureau data analyzed by the Pew Research Center. That includes people who are in the country illegally as well as legal residents. Immigrants make up almost 20% of the U.S. workforce and that data shows 45% of workers in farming, fishing and forestry are immigrants, according to Pew senior researcher Stephanie Kramer."
Lidia harvests tomatoes in California's Central Valley and lives with anxiety about Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions that could upend her life decades after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally. More than 1.2 million immigrants left the U.S. labor force between January and the end of July. Immigrants represent nearly 20% of the overall workforce, 45% of workers in farming, fishing and forestry, about 30% in construction and 24% in services. The overall immigrant population experienced its first decline after the undocumented population reached 14 million in 2023. Causes of the decline remain unclear and may include voluntary departures, removals, underreporting, or technical issues.
Read at ABC7 Los Angeles
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