Farm labor particularly in the California produce industry is heavily foreign born and unauthorized. The USDA’s national crop workforce estimated as of January, 2025: “In 2020–22, 32% of crop farmworkers were U.S. born, 7% were immigrants who had obtained U.S. citizenship, 19% were other authorized immigrants (primarily permanent residents or green-card holders), and the remaining 42% held no work authorization. (Go here.)

The United Farmworker Foundation issued a report in July based on a survey of 2,250 farm workers, most of them in California. The survey was conducted in mid 2025. The surveyors did not ask the legal status of respondents, but it appears that virtually all were unauthorized to be in the country

Some highlights:

Tenure in the U.S.: 80% had been in the U.S. for at least ten years;40% over 20 years. 40% had been in farm work in the U.S. for over 20 years. 65% work at least ten months a year in agriculture.

Their undocumented status’ most painful aspect is inability to visit family members in their country of origin. At the same time, 69% said that if they were deported, they would lose family attachments in the U.S. If their status were made legal, 87% would visit family members in their country of origin.

92% said that ICE was affecting their employment. 88% reported fearing detention or deportation. 61% had reduced their shopping, 29% had avoided medical attention.

42% did not know their rights if approached by ICE. Only 20% said they knew their rights and how to get legal representation.