Trump has cast the H-2A program as a quick help for farmers. At the same time, the program has been suspended during the government shutdown, which could cause production problems.
While every farm-dependent county in the state has lost population in the past decade, counties tied to meatpacking and food processing are holding on thanks to foreign-born workers — a trend that could be upended by Trump’s deportation plans.
The spread of misinformation has fueled anxiety and alarm within Iowa's Latino immigrant community. It is estimated that the state is home to more than 52,000 undocumented immigrants.
