Harvest of shame: Farmworkers face coronavirus disaster
“President Donald Trump may have made railing against undocumented immigrants central to his political brand, but during the pandemic even his administration has been forced to acknowledge the essential work they do, particularly in keeping the country fed during a crisis. Within days of the coronavirus pandemic taking hold, the Trump administration had to confront a reality it had long tried to ignore: The nation’s 2.5 million farmworkers, about half of whom the government estimates are undocumented, are absolutely critical to keeping the food system working. It was a major shift for a president who continues to reduce any debate about immigration to stoking fears about border defense and crime. But the Trump administration and Congress have done little to help keep farmworkers safe on the job.”