Recent raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), amplified by clear messages from President Donald Trump and his national security cabinet about a more aggressive enforcement of immigration laws, have reignited the deeply polarized debate over immigration policy in the United States—a country currently home to approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants.
While border security and the enforcement of immigration laws are fundamental to national sovereignty, the conversation must go beyond fear-based tactics and move toward comprehensive immigration reform. It is undeniable that the U.S. economy relies heavily on immigrant labor.
Migrant workers, both documented and undocumented, are the backbone of industries that keep America running. In agriculture, millions of Mexican laborers work tirelessly under grueling conditions to harvest the crops that fill supermarket shelves. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2.6 million people work in agricultural fields across the country. Of these, 73% (1.89 million workers) are of Hispanic origin and 25% (650,000 workers) are white, with the remaining percentage belonging to other races or ethnicities.
Further data shows that 47% of these workers—roughly 1.22 million—are undocumented. An additional 18% (468,000 workers) are non-citizens with work authorization, while 34% (884,000 workers) are U.S. citizens.
It is also worth noting that the agri-food sector and related industries contribute $1.537 trillion to the U.S. economy, accounting for 5.5% of the country’s GDP. This underscores the vital role migrant hands play in supporting the primary sector of the U.S. economy, which in 2024 closed with a GDP of $28.5 trillion.
The United States ranks as the world’s third-largest agri-food producer—after China and India—but holds the top position as the world’s largest exporter of agricultural products, with exports valued at $195 billion in 2023. Key exports include soybeans, corn, wheat, nuts, and meats. The irony lies in the fact that Mexico—the country that “exports” the most migrant labor, both legal and illegal, to American farms—is also the U.S.’s top buyer of agri-food products, importing $30 billion worth annually. It is followed by Canada, China, the European Union, and Japan.
These figures paint a clear and compelling picture of the crucial role played by Hispanic and immigrant communities—documented and undocumented alike—in ensuring the food security of Americans and global trade partners, including Mexico. Without their labor, crops would rot in the fields, the U.S. GDP would shrink into recession, supply chains would collapse, and food prices would skyrocket—inflicting inflationary pain on households across the country.
Another sector deeply impacted by ICE raids is construction, where Hispanic workers build homes, infrastructure, and commercial developments that fuel economic growth. According to the American Immigration Council, approximately 13.7%—or 1.14 million—of construction workers are undocumented immigrants.
The U.S. currently faces a housing shortage of 3.7 million units. Combined with rising material costs, this has led to a steady increase in home prices since the pandemic. According to official data, 8.3 million people are employed in residential and commercial construction, yet the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the sector needs an additional 250,000 workers to meet demand.
The hospitality and tourism sector, which employs 15 million people and contributes $700 billion to the nation’s GDP, also relies heavily on migrant labor. According to estimates by the American Immigration Council, over 1 million undocumented immigrants clean hotel rooms, prepare food, and provide essential services that sustain entire regional economies.
These are not jobs most U.S.-born workers are eager to fill—not due to laziness, but because of labor market dynamics: low wages, demanding conditions, and a general lack of applicants. The economic consequences of mass deportations and workplace raids are profound and far-reaching.
The United States urgently needs a comprehensive and pragmatic immigration reform—one that strikes a balance between securing the borders, upholding the rule of law, and recognizing the indispensable contributions of immigrants.
Such reform must include a pathway to legal status for undocumented workers who have no criminal record, abide by the law, and contribute to society—especially in critical industries like agriculture, construction, and hospitality.
While border security and law enforcement are essential pillars of any rule-of-law nation, aggressive enforcement without meaningful reform is both cruel and counterproductive. It is time to move past the divisive rhetoric of Democrats versus Republicans and work toward a bipartisan solution—one that respects the law, values immigrant contributions, provides legal avenues for essential workers, strengthens borders in a humane manner, and ensures national prosperity.
Juan Eliseo | Periodista 