The U.S. meatpacking industry is on edge as it braces for potential fallout from President-elect Donald Trump's proposed mass deportations. While many in the industry supported Trump financially during his reelection bid, they are now concerned about how the loss of foreign-born labor could disrupt their operations.
The meatpacking sector is heavily reliant on immigrant labor, with some estimates suggesting that 30% to 50% of the workforce may be undocumented. Despite disputes from some industry groups, there is no denying that migrant workers play a critical role in keeping the supply chain running. Ethan Lane, vice president of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, highlighted the industry's ongoing struggle with labor shortages. "No one's going to tell you there's a bigger challenge in the meat supply chain than labor," Lane told Axios.
