During her Senate confirmation hearing for agriculture secretary, Brooke Rollins faced tough questioning from Sen. Dick Durbin about the potential negative impact of mass deportations of undocumented individuals on the agriculture industry. Durbin highlighted that 40% of farmworkers in the country are undocumented, causing concern for small producers who heavily rely on their labor. Rollins, CEO of a conservative think tank that supports mass deportation policies, expressed support for President Trump’s vision of a secure border while also emphasizing her commitment to defending farmers and ranchers.
Acknowledging the potential conflict between these two priorities, Rollins suggested modernizing the H-2A visa program as a potential solution to reduce agricultural labor shortages. However, when Durbin pressed her on whether farmers and ranchers could expect federal agents to search their property under a mass deportation plan, Rollins admitted she was not involved in designing such plans and could not provide a clear answer.
Rollins emphasized the importance of transparency and her commitment to helping President Trump implement his agenda while supporting American farmers and ranchers. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the impact of mass deportations on the agriculture workforce, Rollins assured that she would ensure the president is aware of key agriculture workforce data. If confirmed as agriculture secretary, Rollins faces the challenge of balancing immigration policies with the needs of the agricultural industry.
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