Key Takeaways
• ICE and Homeland Security Investigations raided Kona coffee farms in May 2025, targeting undocumented workers and unaccompanied minors.
• The crackdown has reduced the migrant labor force, risking up to a third of the annual Kona Coffee harvest in 2025.
• Farmers, educators, and community leaders report fear, economic disruption, and a ‘chilling effect’ on families regardless of legal status.
Hawaii’s Big Island is famous for its lush fields that grow Kona Coffee, one of the most recognized coffee brands in the world. But in early May 2025, this peaceful and productive region found itself at the center of an unexpected crisis. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in partnership with Homeland Security Investigations, began conducting operations in Kona’s coffee-growing areas, focusing on farms, workers, and even the children living and working on these farms. These enforcement actions are affecting families, the workforce, and the coffee industry as a whole.
ICE and Homeland Security Investigations Move Into Kona
During the first days of May 2025, people living and working in the coffee belt of South Kona started seeing federal immigration agents arrive on farms. According to several eyewitnesses and news stories, immigration officers, specifically from ICE and Homeland Security Investigations, visited coffee farms in search of undocumented workers. The agents also focused on minors that the government officially classifies as “Unaccompanied Alien Children.” These are kids who came to the United States 🇺🇸 without a parent or guardian and were placed with a sponsor or relative.
Some agents described their presence as “welfare checks.” In theory, this means making sure the children are safe and living in healthy conditions. But, based on video proof and reports from the area, many believe these checks are being used as a pretext to ask questions about sponsors. Some of these sponsors, as well as the children themselves, have been taken away by the authorities.
Educators and other members of the community have tried to respond in real time. One video reportedly shows teachers hurrying to a local police station, holding paperwork proving their guardianship of a young person who had been picked up. Despite these efforts, it seems the documents did not change the situation immediately. ICE and Homeland Security Investigations did not release detailed comments about the operations, but the impact on people’s lives was clear and sudden.
The Kona Coffee Fields and Their Workers
Kona Coffee is a source of local pride and a big driver of the island’s economy. The region:
- Hosts over 600 coffee farms.
- Has at least 4,000 acres of coffee plants.
- Produces the majority of Hawaii’s entire coffee crop.
Before these ICE and Homeland Security Investigations sweeps, Hawaii’s coffee sector was already struggling. A plant disease called Coffee Leaf Rust had been damaging crops. On top of that, there were not enough workers to pick the beans, since coffee farming is hard work and relies heavily on labor during picking season.
Traditionally, farm owners in Kona depend on groups of seasonal workers from other parts of the United States, especially California and Arizona. These workers are skilled and know the rhythm of the harvest. However, after hearing stories and seeing reports of immigration enforcement, many have decided to avoid Hawaii this season. A farmer who usually hires about 40 migrant workers said he might lose a third of his crop in 2025. Losing this much could hurt not only his income, but might also disrupt the flow of Kona Coffee to markets across the country and around the world.
Armando Rodriguez, a coffee farmer from South Kona and the founder of ALOHA Latinos, summed up the atmosphere by saying, “I’m predicting we’re going to lose a lot of coffee because there’s a lot of coffee on the trees.” Even though Rodriguez is a U.S. citizen, he’s started closing and locking his driveway gate for the first time because he worries that he might be stopped and questioned based solely on his background as a Latino. This sense of fear and caution is spreading among many longtime residents and families in the region.
The Scope of the Enforcement Actions
What’s happening in South Kona is not an isolated case. In fact, ICE’s recent activity points to a larger push across the state of Hawaii 🇺🇸. On May 10, 2025, authorities reported that 50 people were arrested in raids on three islands: Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii island itself. These arrests were officially described as related to “immigration violations.” While many details are still unclear, the numbers suggest a well-coordinated effort.
Why is this happening now? Some key factors include:
- Renewed cooperation between local police and federal agencies like ICE and Homeland Security Investigations.
- Memorandums of understanding, known as MOUs, between Big Island police and federal immigration officials. Although these agreements have existed for about ten years, they are now being closely examined. Critics worry that local police may end up working alongside or even on behalf of immigration agencies, which could blur the line between community law enforcement and federal immigration control.
- The activity targeting “Unaccompanied Alien Children” and their sponsors signals a new focus, as these minors are placed with host families throughout the state. Checking in on these placements is normal, but turning welfare checks into enforcement actions is unusual and has sparked strong reactions from the community.
Reaction from Kona Coffee Farmers and the Local Community
Coffee farmers, especially in Kona, are used to working with a diverse and multicultural workforce. Many workers are members of the local community who have lived in Hawaii for years, even if they were born in other countries. According to the Kona Coffee Farmers Association, about 90% of regular, year-round farm workers are “documented,” meaning they have legal permission to work. This estimate is based on feedback from local experts.
Still, the uncertainty and anxiety that come with these enforcement actions go much farther than just those without paperwork. As soon as farmers and their employees hear that ICE and Homeland Security Investigations are in the area, the whole workforce feels threatened. Some people may stop coming to work, not answer their doors, or keep their children at home. When workers are afraid, the farms cannot function properly. This effect is strong even if, as the association said, “the large majority of our year-round workers are documented.” Raids create what the association called a “chilling effect.”
In the days after the raids began, the Kona Coffee Farmers Association offered updated guidance to farm owners about what to do if ICE agents arrive. They encouraged farmers to know their legal rights and those of their workers, regardless of immigration status. They also made it clear that agents should not enter private properties without a proper warrant. For more detailed information about such procedures and what rights workers have during these kinds of visits, you can visit the official U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website.
According to the reports, other local leaders are encouraging calm but also warning workers and families to “remain alert” and avoid taking risks. Communities in Kona and around Hawaii’s coffee farm regions are taking extra steps to protect their people and their livelihoods.
How Ongoing Enforcement Threatens Coffee Production
The timing of these enforcement actions comes at the worst possible moment for the Kona Coffee industry. The period after winter is typically when the cherries (the fruit that holds coffee beans) are fully ripe and need to be harvested. If there are not enough workers to pick the coffee on time, much of the crop will simply fall off the trees and go to waste. That harms farmers, workers, and the businesses that package and sell Kona Coffee around the world.
Farmers are facing a perfect storm: disease and pests threaten the plants, and now there is a sudden shortage of experienced labor. In the words of Rodriguez, “We’re going to lose a lot of coffee.”
Some key worries for the coffee industry include:
- Financial losses this harvest and possibly for several years ahead
- Harm to Hawaii’s reputation as a reliable source of high-quality beans
- Long-term damage to the close relationship between local families, workers, and farm owners that has kept the industry healthy for decades
The Broader National Discussion
The news from Kona comes at a time when immigration policy and enforcement are debated all across the country. Some people support strict immigration enforcement as a way to make sure laws are followed and borders are protected. Others worry that targeting workers who help bring food and drink to American tables could disrupt important industries and tear local communities apart.
VisaVerge.com’s investigation reveals that these events highlight the very real effects that federal policies can have on small communities and local economies. When enforcement focuses on immigrants working in agriculture, the entire supply chain from farm to cup is affected.
There’s also an emotional toll. Local residents like Armando Rodriguez point out that Hawaii is known as the “Aloha State,” which means welcome and kindness are supposed to be core values. He expressed surprise and disappointment: “We don’t feel safe and we never thought this was something that would happen in Hawaiʻi, because, you know, this is Aloha state.”
Community Responses and Support Systems
Despite the fear and uncertainty, the local community is showing resilience. Teachers, church groups, advocacy organizations, and legal aid groups are working to support affected families. They are making sure children and adults know their rights, providing safe spaces for those scared of stepping outside, and helping to connect people with legal help.
Farm owners are sharing information about how to handle unplanned visits from federal agents. Some farms are now installing locked gates and cameras, which is a first in a place where neighbors used to leave doors open. There is a general sense that life in Kona has suddenly changed.
Students, teachers, and parents are especially stressed by the risk to teenagers and young adults who came to the United States 🇺🇸 alone and are now living with local families. The fear is that even those who are following all the rules could get caught up in raids or be separated from their relatives or supporters.
Legal Framework and Questions Raised
For years, local law enforcement and federal agencies like ICE and Homeland Security Investigations have operated under memorandums of understanding. These agreements outline how local police and federal immigration officers work together. Now, many community activists and public officials question whether these agreements are in the best interest of Hawaii’s people, especially when federal operations could involve local police.
This debate has led some lawmakers and advocacy groups to call for more transparency and possible changes to these agreements. They argue that keeping local policing separate from immigration enforcement helps build trust and protects the fabric of the community.
Looking Ahead: The Future for Kona Coffee and Its People
The ICE operations in Kona have set off waves of worry that go far beyond coffee fields. They affect farm owners, workers, children, teachers, and shoppers who enjoy Kona Coffee worldwide. If the labor shortage gets worse, Hawaii’s coffee could become harder to find and more expensive. It might take years for the local industry to fully recover.
But this episode also sparks new conversations. Some want to see immigration policies that focus first on safety, family unity, and the needs of essential industries like farming. Others push for stricter laws to limit undocumented work. No matter the side, the events in Kona show how deeply immigration policies touch the lives of real people.
People in Kona are waiting to see what happens next. The coming months will reveal how farms, families, and government leaders respond to these changes—and whether the community can balance safety, law, and the spirit of aloha that makes Hawaii so unique.
In summary, the recent enforcement actions by ICE and Homeland Security Investigations in Kona’s prized coffee region have shaken the industry, the workforce, and the local sense of security. With hundreds of farm owners and thousands of workers on edge, all eyes are on Hawaii’s leaders and the future of Kona Coffee.
Learn Today
Unaccompanied Alien Children → Minors who entered the U.S. without a parent or guardian and are placed with sponsors or relatives.
Welfare checks → Visits by authorities to ensure children or individuals live in safe, healthy conditions; sometimes used for information gathering.
Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) → Formal agreements between local police and federal agencies outlining cooperation, especially in immigration enforcement.
Coffee Leaf Rust → A plant disease affecting coffee crops, causing reduced yield and long-term agricultural challenges.
Chilling effect → Widespread fear or hesitation within a community caused by enforcement actions or increased regulatory scrutiny.
This Article in a Nutshell
Federal immigration raids on Hawaii’s Kona coffee farms in May 2025 sparked fear, labor shortages, and possible harvest losses. Operations targeting undocumented workers and minors have disrupted families and industry. Farmers and advocates warn long-term damage to livelihoods and Hawaii’s reputation, urging community resilience while demanding policy transparency and humane enforcement.
— By VisaVerge.com
Read more:
• Emirates First Class Rolls Out Unlimited Caviar Service
• German Police use Aachen University plane to hunt Alexander Meisner
• Boulder County Sheriff’s Office Probes Ultralight Shooting Threat
• American Airlines Restores Second Drink Service for Fliers
• GEO Group secures $1 billion ICE contract for Delaney Hall Facility
