A Vermont dairy farm was raided. The mixed messages from Washington since then have increased fears
The arrest of eight Vermont dairy farmers in April sent shock waves throughout New England’s agriculture industry, and fears haven’t eased since then. That’s because migrant farm workers are still getting mixed message about such raids. President Donald Trump last month paused arrests at farms, restaurants and hotels. Less than a week later, the assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security said worksite enforcement of immigration policies would continue. Such uncertainty is causing problems in big produce-producing states like California. It’s also affecting small states like Vermont. More than half Vermont’s farmland is dedicated to dairy and dairy crops, and the state produces nearly two-thirds of all the milk in New England.