Minnesota Farmers Union President Gary Wertish says expanded ICE enforcement across Minnesota is creating widespread fear that is beginning to disrupt agriculture, food processing, and local food distribution. Wertish says ICE activity is no longer limited to the Twin Cities and is now reaching rural areas where agriculture depends heavily on immigrant labor. “Everybody agrees that if they are a hardened criminal, they need to be prosecuted. There’s no disagreement on that. It’s just the way this is going on. It’s really affecting fear within the migrant and immigrant community.” Wertish says ICE actions are already causing ripple effects, with workers afraid to leave their homes and businesses struggling to stay open, ultimately impacting farm country.
