Left Behind: A Farmer and a Migrant Worker Seek Hope Beyond Washington
How immigration policy and political uncertainty are reshaping the lives of farmers and migrant workers in rural America
In the rolling fields of the Midwest, where the promise of American abundance once seemed boundless, two lives have become intertwined by uncertainty. One is a third-generation farmer, the other a migrant worker from Guatemala. Both placed their faith in a political system that now seems to have turned its back on them.
A Partnership Built on Necessity
For decades, American agriculture has depended on migrant labor. Farmers and workers forged relationships out of mutual need: the farmer needs hands to harvest, the worker needs a job to support a family. But in 2025, that partnership is under siege.
President Trump’s renewed immigration crackdown has sent shockwaves through rural communities. Despite public statements suggesting relief might be coming for agricultural and hospitality workers, no meaningful policy changes have materialized. Instead, deportation raids and the threat of sudden removal have become daily realities, leaving both farmers and migrants in limbo.
Promises Made, Promises Broken
John Miller (name changed for privacy), a corn and soybean farmer in Iowa, once counted himself among Trump’s strongest supporters. He believed the president would protect American agriculture and the workers it relies on. But recent months have brought only hardship.
With federal grants canceled and billions of dollars in aid now in jeopardy, Miller’s operation teeters on the brink “I thought I was voting for someone who understood rural America,” he says. “But now, I’m not sure Washington even knows we exist.”
His farm’s survival depends on workers like Luis, a 28-year-old from Guatemala who has been in the U.S. for five years. Luis came north seeking safety and opportunity, but now lives in constant fear of deportation. “I just want to work and help my family,” he says. “But every day, I worry it could all be taken away.”
The Human Cost of Policy
The administration’s hardline approach has not only upended lives but also jeopardized the nation’s food supply. Industry leaders and lawmakers from both parties have warned that mass deportations could devastate American agriculture, which relies heavily on immigrant labor. Yet, despite reassurances from the White House, no concrete protections have been put in place.
Farmers like Miller are left to navigate a shrinking labor pool, rising costs, and mounting anxiety. Migrant workers, meanwhile, face the prospect of losing not just their jobs but their homes and communities.
Searching for a Better Future
Some, like Luis, consider leaving America altogether. Spain, for example, has become a beacon for migrants shut out by U.S. policies, offering a path to legalization and economic opportunity. In Madrid, Latin American immigrants are helping to drive one of Europe’s fastest-growing economies, aided by streamlined immigration policies and a more welcoming political climate.
“My cousin in New York told me to come to Spain,” says Edith Chimbo, a recent arrival from Ecuador. “Here, we have hope.”
A Call for Compassion and Reform
Back in Iowa, Miller and Luis cling to hope that change will come. Both know that their futures—and the future of American agriculture—depend on a system that recognizes their shared humanity and mutual dependence.
“We’re not asking for handouts,” Miller says. “We’re asking for a chance to keep feeding America.”
As the political winds shift and debates rage in Washington, the fate of farmers and migrant workers hangs in the balance. Their story is not just about policy, but about the values that define the nation’s table: hard work, dignity, and the pursuit of a better life—for everyone who calls America home.
This article is part of TheAmericanTable.org’s ongoing series on food, labor, and the future of rural America.