he leader of a U.S. dairy producer group says producers are worried about the crackdown on foreign workers.  Laurie Fischer from the American Dairy Coalition tells Brownfield apprehending workers creates a hardship for dairy producers.

Laurie Fischer from the American Dairy Coalition tells Brownfield apprehending workers creates a hardship for dairy producers.

Laurie Fischer

“Our concern then is if something was not given to us appropriately and there is an ICE agent or officer that does detain someone to look at their paperwork, our fear is who’s going to milk the cows?”

President Donald Trump has stepped up enforcement on illegal immigrants that have committed drug or violent crimes, but some dairy workers with no drug or violence charges have been detained.

Fischer says, “In the actual memo, it came out that those undocumented workers if they happen to be picked up or if apprehended,  they will actually be considered a criminal if they’re using a false Social Security number.”

Fischer advises employers to review all I-9 forms and other documents and be prepared for law enforcement agents.  She says the American Dairy Coalition has worked with several producers around the country to help them comply with immigration agent demands.

Fischer says nearly all apprehensions so far have taken place away from the farm workplace.