immigrant workers

So far, the Trump administration's immigration enforcement has largely avoided the agricultural sector, allowing farms dependent on immigrant labor to keep operating. Dairy farmers in Idaho say they are anxious that this exemption will not continue, warning that raids on their workforce could disrupt milk production and the wider rural economy that relies on immigrant workers.

The Cato Institute reports that legal immigration from majority-Muslim countries has fallen by 96% since 2024. The finding points to a dramatic contraction in visas and admissions for nationals of those nations under current US policy. The scale of the reduction is drawing attention in debates over immigration restriction and its impact on families, workers and students from affected countries.

Angela Rayner has publicly criticised Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's plans to make it harder for migrant workers to obtain settled status in the UK, warning the move would "change the goalposts" for people already living and working in the country. The communities secretary and former deputy prime minister also stood by her earlier description of the policy, exposing a clear split at the top of the government over immigration rules.

Kansas officials have asked US Immigration and Customs Enforcement to scale back enforcement operations at the state's meat processing plants. The request reflects concern that workplace raids disrupt a key industry that depends heavily on immigrant labor and affect local communities. The detail has been reported by NPR, though officials' full reasoning and ICE's response are not yet clear.

Local leaders in Wisconsin say federal immigration policy may be making the state's shortage of caregivers worse. Providers in sectors like long-term care have long relied on immigrant workers, and tighter visa rules and enforcement are making it harder to fill open positions. The concern is being raised by community and industry figures across the state as demand for care workers continues to outstrip supply.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton told Hispanic business leaders he would be open to legal worker programs, provided the US-Mexico border is first secured. The remarks signal a possible softening for business groups seeking access to migrant labor, while maintaining a hardline position on border enforcement.

Federal immigration policy changes may be worsening Wisconsin's shortage of caregivers, according to reporting by PBS Wisconsin. The report suggests that shifts in immigration rules and enforcement could be reducing the pool of immigrant workers, on whom the state's caregiving sector heavily relies. The shortfall threatens care for elderly and disabled residents across Wisconsin.

Japan's Immigration Services Agency reports that the number of foreign workers in the country under the Specified Skilled Worker visa has reached a record high of 444,256. The program, created in 2019 to address severe labor shortages in sectors like caregiving, construction and agriculture, continues to expand as Japan's population ages and shrinks.

Immigration enforcement raids are disrupting meatpacking operations in Kansas, according to Farm Policy News. The raids threaten output at plants that rely heavily on immigrant labor, raising concerns across the agricultural and food processing sectors about workforce shortages and supply chain effects. Details on which facilities were targeted and how many workers were detained remain limited.

Federal immigration raids on cannabis farms in Southern Oregon led to 21 people being detained, according to an immigration watchdog group. The operation was reported by Oregon Public Broadcasting, and it comes amid intensified enforcement actions at agricultural workplaces. Details on the detainees' identities, the exact locations raided, and any charges have not been disclosed.

Brookings is proposing a dedicated visa policy for direct care workers to help the United States meet the staffing needs of its rapidly aging population. The proposal argues that immigration policy should be aligned with long-term care demand, as the sector faces persistent worker shortages and rising numbers of older adults needing assistance.

The SMARTER Act is being presented as a proposal to restructure US immigration around skills rather than family ties or random selection. Its backers argue a merit-based system would better serve the American economy by admitting workers with needed talents. Critics of skills-based models typically raise concerns about fairness and impacts on family reunification, making the bill part of a broader, ongoing immigration debate.

A new state report finds Maine's foreign-born workers generated $177 million in state income taxes between 2020 and 2024. The figures highlight the economic contribution of immigrants to the state's workforce at a time when immigration remains a prominent topic in Maine and nationally.