Migrant Labor Concerns Mount on Niagara and Orleans County Farms Amid ICE Activity

In Niagara and Orleans counties, the backbone of agriculture relies heavily on the labor of migrant workers, many of whom now live in a state of fear due to increased federal immigration enforcement. As U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) intensifies its actions nationwide, local farms are growing increasingly concerned about the impact on their operations and the stability of the food supply chain.

The agriculture sectors of both counties are particularly vulnerable to labor disruptions. Whether harvesting apples in Barker, milking dairy cows near Middleport, or tending to grape vineyards in Newfane, these tasks are physically demanding and often go unfilled by local residents.

Many farmers report that they have not received job applications from local applicants in over a decade. The work is hard, the hours long, and pay minimal.

That labor void is filled by thousands of migrant workers, many of whom are employed legally through the federal H-2A visa program, which allows foreign nationals to work on U.S. farms for up to 10 months annually.

Others, however, lack legal documentation but are considered essential by employers. Without them, many farms would be forced to cut production or close.

A recent ICE stop in Orleans County is bringing heightened anxiety. On May 2nd, immigration officers intercepted a bus transporting workers to a local farm in the county, detaining 14 individuals.

Several were deported while others remain in legal limbo.

The event has had a ripple effect throughout the region and is discouraging workers from going into town for groceries or essentials.

In many cases, farmers now rely on delivery services to bring food and supplies directly to laborers' housing, which is typically located on the farm itself.

Statistics show the scope of the issue: according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, over 50% of all crop labor in the United States is performed by undocumented workers.

In New York, estimates suggest that up to 65% of dairy farm labor is provided by immigrant workers, many of whom may not have fully verified documentation.

Nationwide, the figure for all agricultural labor by immigrants - documented and undocumented - hovers around 73%.

In Niagara County alone, dairy farms depend on immigrant labor for daily operations, particularly in milking barns, animal care, and field work.

Fruit farms, such as those in the towns of Appleton, Burt, Gasport, and Newfane employ seasonal migrant workers.

Meanwhile, year-round operations like dairy farms have fewer options and often employ undocumented workers due to the lack of a year-round visa program.

The current environment, marked by federal raids and legal ambiguity, is pushing these farms into survival mode. Many farm owners are hesitant to speak openly about their reliance on undocumented labor fearing they will be targeted.

Yet, without this workforce, local food production would suffer severely. From apples and milk to grapes and vegetables, many of the goods sold in Western New York supermarkets rely on these laborers.

Both Niagara and Orleans counties, though largely rural, are not isolated from the consequences of national immigration policy.

Law enforcement activities, policy shifts, and the potential for mass deportations have left workers feeling vulnerable and farm owners scrambling for solutions.

Efforts to reform the system remain stalled at the federal level. Meanwhile, local farmers are advocating for a more workable solution, calling to expand the H-2A program to accommodate year-round needs.

In the absence of reform, farms across Niagara and Orleans counties may be forced to scale back or automate, a costly and often unfeasible transition for smaller operations.

Migrant Labor Concerns Mount on Niagara and Orleans County Farms Amid ICE Activity