US industries hit by ICE arrests

Service, agricultural sectors face crisis due to sudden shortage of migrant workers

The Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration is disrupting several key industries, especially restaurants and food production that rely heavily on migrant workers, say experts.

"There is a lot of uncertainty about federal immigration policies instilling fear in immigrant communities, whether or not they have legal status, and, in some cases, it is having a chilling effect on restaurants' team members and guest traffic," Jot Condie, president and CEO of the California Restaurant Association, told China Daily.

There were an estimated 8.3 million undocumented workers in the US workforce as of 2022-23, although this number is likely higher, say experts. At least 1 million worked in restaurants, the Center for Migration Studies and Pew Research Center found.