Idaho’s dairy sector, the nation’s fourth-largest milk producer, has historically depended on immigrant workers to sustain its operations. Industry leaders estimate that roughly 90 percent of workers at the state’s approximately 350 dairies may lack legal authorization to work. Rick Naerebout, chief executive of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association, contends that agricultural positions are physically demanding and unappealing to American citizens, necessitating reliance on migrant labor to maintain production levels.
While large-scale immigration enforcement actions have been limited in Idaho compared to other regions, federal deportation flights arrive twice weekly at the Twin Falls airport, creating anxiety within immigrant communities and among agricultural stakeholders. These flights transport detainees to undisclosed federal detention facilities, prompting local immigration rights advocates to document the activity. The visible enforcement presence has prompted some families to voluntarily relocate to Mexico, including cases where undocumented spouses opted to leave rather than risk separation from their families.
The labor shortage has intensified amid enforcement concerns. Last year, Idaho’s dairy farms advertised 7,500 positions through the H2A temporary agricultural visa program, yet only four local residents applied. The dairy industry cannot access H2A visas because milk production requires year-round employment rather than seasonal work. Despite offering wages competitive with service sector jobs in rural communities, farms struggle to attract domestic workers to positions characterized as physically demanding and weather-dependent.
Industry representatives acknowledge that federal authorities have historically tolerated the agricultural sector’s workforce composition across multiple administrations. Naerebout, a registered Republican, suggests a disconnect exists between government understanding of agricultural labor realities and voter expectations regarding immigration enforcement. To date, only one significant immigration raid has occurred in Idaho under the current administration, targeting an illegal gambling operation at a horse racing venue frequented by farmworkers rather than agricultural facilities directly.
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