U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said on Tuesday that there will be no amnesty for agricultural workers from the Trump administration's efforts to deport all immigrants who are in the country illegally.
The farm sector has warned that mass deportation of farm workers would disrupt the U.S. food supply.
The Trump administration signaled in June it might pause raids on some farm worksites before reversing course.
Secretary Rollins said the administration wants a 100% American workforce and suggested some people receiving government aid could replace immigrant workers.
"Ultimately, the answer on this is automation, also some reform within the current governing structure. And then also, when you think about, there are 34 million able-bodied adults in our Medicaid program. There are plenty of workers in America," said Rollins.
Trump's tax-cut and spending bill, passed on July 3, introduces work requirements for Medicaid, which the Congressional Budget Office has said is expected to leave nearly 12 million people uninsured.
In 2023, Texas had over 200,000 farmworkers, with an estimated 27% of the workforce being immigrants, and at least 16% of those being undocumented.
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