Fact Check: "The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that two-thirds of the U.S. crop workers are immigrants and 42 percent are undocumented."
What We Know
The claim states that approximately two-thirds of U.S. crop workers are immigrants, with 42 percent being undocumented. This assertion is supported by data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). According to a report by Marcelo Castillo, in the fiscal years 2020–2022, 32 percent of crop farmworkers were U.S. born, 7 percent were immigrants who had obtained U.S. citizenship, 19 percent were other authorized immigrants, and crucially, 42 percent were undocumented workers with no work authorization (source-1, source-2). Additionally, a report from Politico confirms that about two-thirds of U.S. crop workers are indeed immigrants, with 42 percent of them being undocumented (source-5).
Analysis
The data provided by the USDA is derived from comprehensive surveys and reports that analyze the legal status of hired crop farmworkers over several years. The USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) is a credible source that provides detailed insights into agricultural labor, including demographic characteristics and legal status (source-2). The figures presented are consistent with other studies and reports on the agricultural workforce, which often highlight the significant reliance on immigrant labor in this sector.
The claim that two-thirds of crop workers are immigrants aligns with the USDA's findings, which indicate a substantial proportion of the agricultural workforce is foreign-born. The assertion that 42 percent are undocumented is corroborated by multiple sources, including the USDA and Politico, which both cite similar statistics (source-3, source-5).
The reliability of these sources is high, as they are based on government data and reputable news organizations that specialize in agricultural and economic reporting. However, it is important to note that the percentages can fluctuate based on changes in immigration policy and labor market conditions.
Conclusion
The claim that "the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that two-thirds of the U.S. crop workers are immigrants and 42 percent are undocumented" is True. The evidence from the USDA and corroborating reports confirms the accuracy of these statistics regarding the immigrant status of crop workers in the United States.
Sources
- Legal status of hired crop farmworkers, fiscal 1991–2022 - USDA ERS
- Farm Labor | Economic Research Service - USDA - USDA ERS
- Construction and agriculture industries 'brace' for potential changes to U.S. immigration and tariff policies - UKY
- Trump's pivot on immigration raids in agriculture reveals GOP fissure - Politico