Your weekend reminder that this was very predictable (bold emphasis mine):
ICE Raids in Beef Country Raise Fears of Higher Prices
Cattle industry groups in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas and two Republican senators said the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement actions were hurting operations.
Federal immigration raids in beef-producing regions of Republican states have prompted a forceful reaction from industry associations in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, and unusual pushback from Republican officials just weeks out from the midterm elections.
The associations warned the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement actions “will lead to higher beef prices” at a time when prices of groceries and fuel are already top concerns for voters.
…
Groups representing ranchers — who have generally supported Republicans — are already angry at the Trump Administration for increasing beef imports and injecting uncertainty into cattle markets.
The raids helped give Democrats a new line of attack.
“Something has gone very wrong when schools are warning about children going uncared for and businesses are closing in fear,” said Adam Hamilton, a pastor and the Democratic nominee challenging Senator Marshall.
In a joint statement, groups representing ranchers in Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma said they understand federal agencies have to enforce the law, but they called the enforcement activity “a costly and unnecessary impact to cattle producers already suffering from unwelcome political interference to both the markets as well as the physical supply chain.”
“These ICE operations are having a massive chilling effect on the legal, documented, skilled workers that put beef on the table,” the Kansas Livestock Association, Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association and Texas Cattle Feeders Association said.
While the meatpacking plants are in Kansas, they support a supply chain of feedlots and ranchers that stretch across hundreds of miles and a number of states.
The groups said “in recent days” the enforcement actions have delayed the shipment of thousands of cattle to processors, “resulting in millions of dollars in lost revenue and additional costs,” as well as “work force disruptions” at feed yards, dairies, feed and grain companies and transportation hubs.
Mr. Miller said the message of the statement was clear: “It means, it hurts. Stop. Don’t do this.”
Let’s start with the most basic fact. Most male working-age undocumented immigrants in the U.S. are employed. Per the Center for Migration Studies (“CMS”), approximately 89% of undocumented men ages are 16-64 are employed, 2% are unemployed and 9% are out of the workforce for various reasons. This is compared to 84% of native-born men in the same age group.
I’ll touch on this again in a bit, but it’s clear that the vast majority of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. come here for opportunity and because they can find a job.
Another interesting fact. Most undocumented immigrants work in what the Department of Homeland Security classifies as “critical infrastructure sectors”. There are 16 defined sectors, including agriculture, food service and production, healthcare and public health. One survey estimated that 69% of undocumented immigrants are employed in jobs that are classified as essential by DHS. And that doesn’t include construction, where undocumented workers make up roughly 15-20% of workers.
Immigration in whatever form has been propping up our economy for years. In the United States is aging, birth rates have fallen and the native-born, working-age population is no longer growing rapidly enough to provide the labor force needed to maintain strong economic growth. We need immigration (and not just 17,500 white South Africans).
So let’s be clear. Undocumented immigrants are here because they can get jobs; and this Admin, like most others, does essentially nothing to change this dynamic because they don’t want to go after the members of their donor class who own the companies that provide those jobs. The crime rate for undocumenteds is lower than for native-born citizens. They tend to assimilate over a few generations (as was the case for almost all immigrant groups, including northern European immigrants).
That leaves only one reason for the current crackdown (besides fear of losing donors) - abject racism. And that is all you need to know about Trump and Stephen Miller.
They are racists. They are white supremacists. And they prioritize racism over the economic and social well-being of everyone in this country. They are willing to destroy our economy and burden U.S. residents with higher prices, reduced economic growth and loss of jobs to make this country more ethno-northern European.
Ernie Seaton Irwin - I’ll Take My Drink Without ICE
