U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has proposed using automation and Medicaid recipients to fill the labor gap expected from Donald Trump’s mass deportation plan targeting undocumented immigrants working in agriculture.
Speaking alongside Republican governors, Rollins claimed that America’s farming industry could rely on “34 million able-bodied adults” currently enrolled in Medicaid, along with technological advances, to make up for the loss of migrant labor. “There are plenty of workers in America,” she said, while reaffirming the administration’s goal of establishing a “100% American workforce.”
The proposal follows newly signed legislation mandating work requirements for Medicaid recipients by the end of 2026. Medicaid currently covers vulnerable populations including low-income families, pregnant women, and people with disabilities.
However, agricultural experts and economists have raised concerns, arguing that such measures are unlikely to replace the critical immigrant workforce that supports U.S. agriculture. According to USDA data, 42% of farm workers are undocumented immigrants and nearly 70% are foreign-born.
Historical evidence also casts doubt on the plan’s feasibility. Immigration crackdowns in Georgia and Alabama in 2011 led to severe labor shortages and major financial losses when domestic workers failed to sustain demanding farm jobs.
Despite advancements in agricultural automation, experts maintain that technology is still years away from effectively replacing manual labor for tasks like fruit and vegetable harvesting.
Rollins acknowledged the need for a strategic approach to avoid jeopardizing the food supply but reaffirmed that the administration is committed to reshaping the agricultural workforce.
Trump recently hinted at potential exemptions for undocumented farm workers, suggesting that farmers might have more control over their labor choices under his policies.