By Matt Underwood It’s a strange thing, isn’t it? People complain about rising grocery prices, but then turn around and vote for policies that are practically guaranteed to make those prices even higher. It’s like they’re choosing to get slapped in the face with a giant, inflated grocery bill.
Think about it: a significant portion of our food production relies on undocumented workers. They pick our fruits and vegetables, process our meat, and keep our shelves stocked. They do this for low wages, often in difficult and dangerous conditions, simply because they need the work. Now imagine what happens when you remove those workers from the equation.
It’s simple supply and demand: fewer workers means less produce, and less produce means higher prices. This isn’t some hypothetical scenario; it’s the reality of our agricultural system. The Trump administration’s focus on mass deportations would directly impact the availability of essential agricultural labor, driving prices for everyday groceries through the roof.
It’s not just about fruits and vegetables, either. The meatpacking industry relies heavily on undocumented workers, making them a crucial part of our food supply chain. Deporting these workers will only exacerbate the issues we’ve already seen with supply chain disruptions and rising meat prices.
And let’s not forget the economic costs of deportations themselves. The resources needed to round up, detain, and deport these individuals are astronomical. Imagine the money spent on staff, investigations, court proceedings, holding cells, and the logistics of transporting people across borders. It’s a colossal expense, and it’s a burden that falls squarely on the shoulders of taxpayers.
The idea that kicking out undocumented workers will create more jobs for American citizens is a fallacy. The reality is that these jobs are often undesirable, demanding long hours in harsh conditions for low wages. Most Americans wouldn’t be willing to do the work, especially at the rates being offered.
In the end, the only ones who would benefit from mass deportations are the corporations and companies that profit from our food system. They’ll likely use the labor shortage as leverage to drive down wages for remaining workers and increase their own profits.
So, the next time you hear someone complaining about the rising cost of groceries, remind them of the policies they support. Because the truth is, the policies that lead to mass deportations aren’t just cruel and unjust, they’re economically unsustainable. They’ll only lead to higher prices, fewer jobs, and a more unstable food system. And that’s a reality we can’t afford.