Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-Calif.), who chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, warned that mass deportations could raise costs for American families, particularly in grocery prices.
President-elect Trump has consistently promised to carry out widespread deportations of undocumented immigrants, a move that could disrupt the workforce and have far-reaching economic consequences.
Nanette Diaz Barragán warns mass deportations could raise grocery prices
During an appearance on MSNBC, Barragán pointed out that mass deportations could worsen economic challenges by driving up food costs. “If you start deporting the agricultural workforce and people in essential jobs that are putting food on the table, grocery costs are only going to go up,” she explained.
She also expressed concerns over the potential loss of essential workers, stressing that deportation efforts could remove key individuals from critical sectors, such as caregiving services. “There’s already a worker shortage, and I think this will have a negative impact on the economy and the human toll it will take on families, tearing them apart,” Barragán said.
Barragán emphasized that these deportations could also undermine trust between communities and law enforcement. “It would be a real catastrophe,” she added, noting that such measures could further erode community relationships.
While opposing Trump’s stance on immigration and inflation, Barragán acknowledged the challenges Democrats face in connecting with voters this election cycle. “There’s a lot of work to do, starting with persuading people that Democrats are fighting for them, particularly working-class and middle-class families,” she remarked.
Barragán contrasted the wealthy backgrounds of Trump’s cabinet members with the needs of everyday Americans, saying, “They’re billionaires, the wealthy, his friends—people who aren’t going to look out for working-class and middle-class families.”
She also pointed out the fear mass deportations have instilled within the Latino community. Trump’s administration appointed Tom Homan, a former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official, to oversee border security.
