By Jenique Jones, Executive Director
Immigrants are not an abstract political issue. They are our neighbors, coworkers, parents, friends and caregivers. They are woven into the fabric of this country from business to entertainment to healthcare and beyond. Immigrants are essential to the systems that sustain our lives, especially our food system.
Immigrants power the food system from end to end. They plant and harvest crops, process and package food, drive distribution routes, stock grocery shelves, and own and operate restaurants. Much of this work is physically demanding, low paid, and invisible, yet absolutely critical. Without immigrants, food does not grow or move. Prices rise. We all feel the impact.
Across the country, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is escalating violence that tears families apart, takes lives, and spreads fear among communities. These actions are often framed as necessary or unavoidable. They are neither. They are harmful, short-sighted, and fundamentally at odds with American values.
Violent ICE enforcement does not just target individuals. It destabilizes communities. When raids and violence occur, people retreat from public life. Workers are afraid to show up. Parents pull back from schools, clinics, and food pantries. People who are hungry skip meals rather than risk exposure. Fear becomes a barrier to survival.
This is not hypothetical. After heightened ICE activity, food banks and nonprofits report sharp drops in participation. The need does not disappear. People are simply too afraid to seek help. Hunger deepens as violence drives people into the shadows.
At a time when food insecurity remains high and our food system is already strained; this approach is both cruel and counterproductive. We cannot claim to care about nutrition, health and dignity while undermining the workforce that makes feeding people possible. We cannot rely on immigrant labor while treating immigrant lives as disposable.
The truth is simple. Immigrants contribute enormously to this country. They work, pay taxes, raise families, and sustain entire industries. They are central to any vision of a resilient, equitable food system and a functioning economy. And moreover, they are people whose humanity has just as much value as yours or mine.
If this country is serious about ending hunger and living up to our values, we must stop criminalizing the people who keep this country fed. That means ending harmful enforcement practices that target workers and families. It means long-term systemic change in our nation’s approach to immigration. It means creating real, lawful pathways for people to live and work without fear. And it means protecting access to food, healthcare, and education regardless of immigration status.
A country that relies on immigrants to feed itself must choose dignity, justice, and the courage to build systems that work for everyone.
