Key Takeaways
• ICE detentions targeting unionizing farmworkers in 2025 sparked national protests and reignited the debate on worker rights.
• Protests and legal support efforts occurred in New York, Washington, and nationwide, involving United Farm Workers and community groups.
• Labor unions allege ICE detentions are used to intimidate organizing, weakening farmworkers’ ability to demand fair treatment and safety.
Recent months have seen a wave of protests across the United States 🇺🇸 in response to a series of ICE detentions targeting immigrant farmworkers, especially those involved in organizing and union activity on farms. These actions have drawn national attention, fueled heated discussions about immigration enforcement, and reignited debates over the rights of workers in the country’s vast agricultural industry. Many community members and unions argue that the detentions focus unfairly on those pushing for better working conditions, making it harder for farmworkers to speak up or unite for fair treatment.
What Sparked the Protests?
These protests did not happen without reason. In early May 2025, members of the United Farm Workers—a national farmworker union—organized a sudden demonstration outside an ICE detention facility in Batavia, New York 🇺🇸. This protest began after ICE agents pulled over a bus heading to Lynne-Ette Farms in Kent, New York 🇺🇸. Workers on that bus had been trying to form a union, and the agents called out names from a list, then took several workers away in unmarked vans.
According to the United Farm Workers, the workers were able to call the union and let them know what happened—at first. But soon after, the workers lost contact with the union, raising concerns about their safety and the reasons for their arrest.
Gabriella Szpunt, who works as the New York organizing coordinator for the United Farm Workers, explained during the rally, “This rally was put together as a means to put pressure on ICE, let them know that we’re here to stand with workers, that the community wants them released as well.”
Many supporters at the demonstration held signs and chanted slogans like, “No farms, no food!” and, “Tear down the walls, free them all!” They expressed worry that the company might have contacted ICE in hopes of scaring workers away from forming a union. The union claims this was an attempt to intimidate people trying to organize at the farm.
ICE Detentions in Other States
This was not an isolated event. On the other side of the country, Washington state 🇺🇸 experienced a similar situation in March 2025. There, Alfredo Juarez Zeferino, also known as “Lelo,” was taken into custody by ICE while driving his partner to her job in the flower fields.
Juarez is just 25 years old but is already well-known for his work helping other farmworkers unite. He has been recognized for his leadership and volunteer work, even earning Whatcom County’s Dotty Dale Youth Peacemaker Award in 2023.
People were quick to notice that Juarez has never been convicted of any crime. Rosalinda Guillén, a farmworker and community activist from Skagit County, said, “He doesn’t have a criminal record, and we think that they stopped him because of his leadership, because of his activism.” Juarez helped found a group called Familias Unidas por la Justicia, a farmworker union based in Skagit County, when he was still a teenager.
After Juarez was detained, outrage spread throughout Washington state 🇺🇸. Over 400 protesters rallied at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, calling for Juarez and other workers to be released. The protest, supported by the Washington State Labor Council, expressed strong support not only for Juarez but for all workers who have been detained as a result of their efforts to improve conditions on the job.
More Protests and Community Actions
The events in New York 🇺🇸 and Washington state 🇺🇸 kicked off a wave of similar protests across the country. For example:
- On April 19, 2025, a large protest movement known as “ICEOutofWA” pushed for ICE to leave Washington state 🇺🇸. Demonstrations took place in Skagit County, including the cities of Mount Vernon and Anacortes.
- In Sackets Harbor, New York 🇺🇸, nearly 1,000 people marched on April 5 against the arrest of an immigrant family with three school-aged children. Supporters say the protest played a key role in helping get the family released.
Labor unions have played a major role in these efforts. In Tacoma, Cherika Carter, secretary treasurer of the Washington State Labor Council, addressed protesters outside the Northwest Detention Center. She declared, “Our freedom to protest, to speak, to organize and to win are under attack. And when you target one of us you target all of us.” This sense of unity shined through as many groups—farmworkers, labor unions, local volunteers, and political leaders—joined together in protest.
Community groups and legal advocates, including the United Farm Workers and the Volunteer Lawyers Project, have tried to make sure that the detained immigrant farmworkers have legal support through their immigration cases. Other organizations, like Community to Community Development, raised money to aid workers’ defense efforts.
How Do ICE Detentions Affect Immigrant Farmworkers?
ICE detentions have created deep fear among many immigrant farmworkers. Some fear that if they speak up for better pay or safer conditions, they might be targeted by immigration authorities.
The agricultural sector in the United States 🇺🇸 depends heavily on immigrant workers. Much of the food found on grocery store shelves is picked or packed by farmworkers, many of whom come from other countries. Without these workers, farms would struggle, and prices for food could rise.
When ICE detains key workers—especially those leading organizing or union efforts—it sends a strong message to other workers. Many may avoid joining unions or even avoid talking to labor organizers, worried that doing so might catch the attention of authorities. Unions like the United Farm Workers argue that this weakens the position of workers, making it harder for them to ask for better pay, improved housing, or safer workplaces.
According to efforts by the United Farm Workers, companies might be using the threat of immigration enforcement as a way to keep workers from speaking up. There is concern that some farms may tip off ICE about workers involved in organizing, as a way to keep unions out. Many worker advocates believe this violates not only workers’ rights but also basic ideas of fairness.
Legal Support and the Push for Worker Rights
In response to these ICE detentions, many lawyers, unions, and community groups have come together to help. One example is the work between the United Farm Workers and the Volunteer Lawyers Project, which provides direct legal help to those detained. These lawyers help workers understand their rights, represent them in immigration court, and work to keep families together.
Groups like Community to Community Development also play a big part, collecting money and supplies for the families of detained workers. This kind of support can make a difference, especially for families who depend on the income of someone who has suddenly been taken away.
The bigger fight, though, is not just getting individual workers released. For many, the protests are a way to push for changes that protect immigrant farmworkers’ rights at a national level. Local groups and national unions are demanding that immigration authorities stop targeting people simply for being part of a union or standing up for their rights. They are pushing for lawmakers to change the laws so that union activity is not a reason for detention or deportation.
Broader Impact on Agriculture and Communities
Farmers in the United States 🇺🇸 rely on a steady supply of workers. Many of these workers move with the seasons, traveling from state to state for planting, picking, and packing crops. Because of this, the threat or reality of ICE detentions has a ripple effect throughout the entire industry.
When workers are afraid of being detained, some may decide not to return to certain areas the next year. Others may leave the workforce altogether. This can leave farms without enough workers to get crops picked and processed before they spoil. In tight labor markets, farms might struggle even more to find people willing to do this tough work. This, in turn, affects families, business owners, and everyone who depends on the food supply chain.
There is also an impact on whole communities, especially in rural areas where farming is the main source of jobs. When families are separated, children may miss school, and families might even need public support to get by. These disruptions can strain social services and weaken the fabric of small towns.
Why the Issue Remains Unresolved
At the heart of these protests is a larger argument over what should take priority—the enforcement of immigration laws, or the protection of workers’ rights. ICE has the job of enforcing federal laws on who can live and work in the United States 🇺🇸. At the same time, farmworkers—regardless of where they were born—have rights under federal and state laws, especially when it comes to organizing or joining a union.
The United Farm Workers and other labor organizations want to make sure that all farmworkers feel safe to speak up if they face poor treatment or unsafe conditions. They believe the recent ICE detentions undermine these rights and will ultimately hurt the entire country by making it harder for essential workers to do their jobs without fear.
Opponents of this view might argue that immigration law should be enforced equally for everyone. However, many people point out that targeting those who take on leadership roles in unions or organizing efforts sends a troubling message—that organizing is what puts them at risk, not just their immigration status.
National Attention and Long-Term Impact
These high-profile ICE detentions and the protests against them have caught the attention of lawmakers and the public alike. As more stories come out about farmworkers who are active in unions being arrested, supporters are calling on Congress and the federal government to step in. Some are asking for clearer rules to prevent immigration enforcement from being used as a tool against union activity.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, the ongoing tension between immigration enforcement and labor rights in agriculture is not just a local issue; it could set the tone for how the United States 🇺🇸 treats essential workers and protects their rights in the future.
Issues like these often move slowly. However, the events across New York 🇺🇸 and Washington state 🇺🇸, and the strong response from groups like the United Farm Workers, have set the stage for future political battles. Whether ICE detentions continue to focus on organizing farmworkers may depend on both legal changes and growing public support for worker rights.
What You Can Do
If you’re interested in learning more about your rights as a worker, or how farmworker unions are supported and regulated, you can visit the United States Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, which offers information on worker protections and labor laws. You can also find up-to-date news and guidance on immigration issues from official government sources.
The protests and the push for change are likely to continue as long as immigrant farmworkers face the threat of ICE detentions, especially when those affected are the very people working to give all farmworkers a stronger voice. As the situation develops, unions and supporters will be watching closely to see if new rules or protections are put in place—hoping for an industry where no one is afraid to organize for better conditions, and where families are no longer separated because of their efforts to build a better workplace.
For more official information about worker protections, visit the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division.
As the United States 🇺🇸 looks for solutions, the outcome will likely shape not only the lives of immigrant farmworkers, but also the country’s food supply and the safety of workplace organizing. Unions and communities say their fight will go on until every worker feels safe and respected—no matter where they come from.
Learn Today
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) → A federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws and detaining individuals suspected of violating those laws in the U.S.
United Farm Workers → A prominent national labor union representing farmworkers, advocating for improved wages, conditions, and rights across agricultural industries.
Detention Facility → A secured location where individuals, such as undocumented migrants, are held by authorities while their legal status is determined.
Union Organizing → The process by which workers join together to form a union for collective bargaining on wages and working conditions.
Community to Community Development → A grassroots organization supporting immigrant worker rights and providing legal and financial assistance to detained farmworker families.
This Article in a Nutshell
Protests have surged nationwide in response to ICE detentions of immigrant farmworkers, especially union leaders. Activists claim these actions aim to silence organizing efforts and intimidate workers demanding rights. United Farm Workers and allies provide legal support, pushing for changes that protect workers and ensure the stability of America’s essential agricultural workforce.
— By VisaVerge.com
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