Key Takeaways
• President-elect Trump’s mass deportation plan threatens 1,200 Haitian workers at the JBS beef plant, critical to US meat processing.
• Deporting Haitian workers with humanitarian parole could disrupt the beef supply chain, causing shortages and price hikes for consumers.
• Industry leaders warn the labor gap in processing plants may collapse operations, heavily impacting farmers, restaurants, and grocery stores.
The US beef industry is facing a looming crisis tied to immigration policy. With President-elect Donald Trump’s pledge to carry out mass deportations, the industry’s reliance on immigrant labor—particularly Haitian immigrants—has become a flashpoint. These deportations have significant implications for meat processing plants, worker communities, farmers, and American consumers alike.
The Role of Immigrants in the US Beef Industry
Immigrant workers are the backbone of the American beef sector, especially in states like Kansas and Colorado, where meat processing operations thrive. In areas such as southwest Kansas, immigrants from over 40 countries are critical to keeping plant operations running smoothly. A glaring example is the JBS beef plant in Greeley, Colorado, which employs 1,200 Haitian workers on its night shift alone. Many of these workers fled instability in Haiti and came to the United States under humanitarian parole—a special temporary immigration status that allows people fleeing unsafe conditions to enter the country for urgent reasons.
Haitian immigrants have stepped into jobs that require long hours in harsh environments. Meat processing is difficult, dirty, and often hazardous, with few Americans interested in these roles. As Kim Cordova, President of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7, observed, there isn’t a significant number of native-born workers eager to fill these tough jobs. Immigrants, particularly Haitians, have become indispensable in maintaining the steady production of beef—a staple in the American diet.
However, President-elect Trump’s proposed immigration policy threatens to upend this delicate balance. His plan, which he has described as “the largest deportation program in American history,” explicitly includes those with humanitarian parole, such as Haitian immigrants granted this status under President Biden’s administration. For the US beef industry, the stakes could not be higher.
Potential Consequences of Mass Deportation Plans
Should mass deportations proceed as promised, the effects on the US beef supply chain would be swift and severe. Experts warn that the removal of workers could lead to serious disruptions, resulting in higher prices and reduced supply. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the meat industry dealt with worker shortages that caused supply-chain problems. Farmers with oversupplies of cattle sometimes had to euthanize livestock because meatpacking plants couldn’t process the animals quickly enough. At the same time, consumers faced record-high beef prices. A similar chain of events could occur again if deporting Haitian workers creates unresolved labor shortages.
Industry leaders are raising alarms. Michael Feltman, an immigration attorney in Kansas, highlights the stark reality: if all immigrant workers were suddenly removed from the workforce, many businesses handling meat production would collapse. A labor vacuum in processing plants could also spill over into other parts of the economy. Beef shortages would likely increase costs for restaurants, grocery stores, and other vendors, passing the burden on to everyday consumers.
Farmers would also bear the brunt of the chaotic supply chain. Without enough workers in processing facilities, livestock might go unsold, or prices for live cattle could plummet, leaving farmers at risk of losing revenue critical to their livelihoods. Massive supply chain disruptions would have repercussions for months, if not years, further straining an industry already dealing with challenges like rising operational costs and inflation.
The Unique Vulnerability of Haitian Immigrants
Haitian workers are particularly vulnerable to Trump’s policy changes. These individuals often fled dire conditions in Haiti, including violence and political instability, to find safety and better opportunities in the United States. Many arrived through dangerous routes, traveling through Central America and Mexico to apply for humanitarian parole at the US border. For some, returning to Haiti would likely result in life-threatening danger.
One such worker, Tchelly Moise, emphasized this point, saying that being sent back to Haiti under the current conditions would essentially mean a “death sentence” due to the rampant gang violence that dominates daily life there. This fear is echoed by many Haitian immigrants, who view their employment in US processing plants not just as a livelihood but as a lifeline.
The potential threats facing Haitian immigrants also extend to their families. If deported, many face the impossible choice of either separating from their children or uprooting their entire households to return to Haiti’s unstable environment. The emotional and logistical toll this takes on immigrant families cannot be understated.
Labor Dynamics and the Strain on the Meat Industry
The issues stemming from labor shortages are not new for the industry. The US Department of Agriculture estimates that about 42% of the nation’s 2.4 million farmworkers are undocumented immigrants. In California—a state where agricultural exports surpass $24.7 billion annually—some advocacy groups estimate that up to three-quarters of farm laborers lack legal immigration status. This highlights how deeply intertwined the US food industry is with immigrant workers, many of whom do not have traditional pathways to permanent residency or citizenship.
Should deportations ramp up, the meat industry might have to rely more heavily on initiatives like the H-2A temporary agricultural worker visa program. However, such programs currently lack the capacity to replace the large and established workforce that deportations would dismantle. Katy Rollins, Trump’s nominee for Agriculture Secretary, has cautiously acknowledged that adjustments to the H-2A program may be required to address worker shortages created by deportations. However, no formal plans have been revealed, leaving the industry in a state of uncertainty.
Legal and Community Responses
Immigrant advocacy organizations are stepping up to prepare workers for possible immigration enforcement actions. Workshops and training sessions have seen a surge in attendance as Haitian workers and others try to safeguard their futures. These efforts include legal guidance, role-playing confrontations with law enforcement, and ensuring that families are secure in case an arrest or deportation occurs. Advocacy groups hope to provide a layer of security and preparedness, even as policies remain unclear.
At the same time, unions are using their platforms to inform workers—and employers—about the broader risks. Kim Cordova has pointed out that businesses and communities across the Midwest would feel the ripple effects of mass deportations. The loss of Haitian workers, she stresses, would expose an already fragile labor system while creating economic challenges extending far beyond the plants themselves.
A Pressing National Issue
The interplay between immigration policy and economic stability highlights a broader question about priorities in the United States. Immigrants like the Haitian workers in Greeley are emblematic of a tension that has long defined the immigration debate. On one hand, they serve as essential contributors to industries and local economies, filling jobs that would otherwise go unfilled. On the other hand, these individuals often remain politically vulnerable, caught in shifting legislative policies with immense personal and economic consequences.
The US beef industry cannot easily replace its immigrant labor base. The jobs are demanding and often dangerous, requiring physical stamina and skill to handle specialized machinery, clean compliance standards, and rapid production speeds. Few domestic workers are willing to take on these roles for the wages offered, compounding the labor issue. Thus, the industry’s dependence on Haitian workers is not an accident but a systemic outcome of limited workforce options.
Looking Ahead
As Trump prepares to take office, all eyes are on how his administration will tackle immigration issues and whether he will follow through on his campaign promises of mass deportations. Haitian immigrants and their families await clarity while enduring existing challenges. Meanwhile, the US beef industry is bracing for a crisis that could reshape its labor structure, pricing, and operations.
The potential deportation policies represent more than just a political stance—they expose vulnerabilities within the nation’s food supply system. Whether temporary solutions like expanding foreign worker visas can offset lost labor remains to be seen. Until then, the beef industry joins immigrant workers and other stakeholders in anticipating what comes next.
For those seeking more information on the humanitarian parole policy that has allowed many Haitian immigrants to enter the United States, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website provides detailed guidance here.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, the fate of Haitian workers, so integral to the beef industry, underscores how tightly woven immigration policy and economic outcomes are in the United States. Any decisions in this area will profoundly affect the livelihoods of immigrant workers, the stability of the beef industry, and the price of beef on supermarket shelves.
Learn Today
Humanitarian Parole → A temporary immigration status allowing individuals fleeing unsafe conditions to enter the U.S. for urgent humanitarian reasons.
Mass Deportation → The removal of a large number of individuals from a country based on immigration enforcement policies.
Supply Chain → A network of processes involved in producing, distributing, and delivering goods, such as beef, to consumers.
H-2A Visa Program → A temporary visa program permitting agricultural employers to hire foreign workers for seasonal jobs in the U.S.
Undocumented Immigrants → Individuals residing in a country without legal authorization or the necessary immigration paperwork.
This Article in a Nutshell
Immigration Policy Threatens US Beef Industry
Haitian immigrants fuel US beef production, filling unpopular, grueling jobs essential to the supply chain. Proposed mass deportations risk critical labor shortages, inflating beef prices while destabilizing farms and worker communities. Beyond politics, this looming crisis underscores how deeply immigrant labor sustains American industries—and how vulnerable our food systems truly are.
— By VisaVerge.com
Read more:
• Trump Ends Temporary Protected Status, Spokane Haitians Face Deportation
• Employers Must Adjust I-9 Records as Haitian TPS Work Permits Shortened
• Mayor Copeland Rejects Trump’s Claims on Haitian Immigrants in Springfield
• Trump Administration Shortens Deportation Protections for 521,000 Haitians
• Orlando Haitian Community Voices Deportation Fears Amid TPS Changes
