Published on, Sept. 1 -- September 1, 2025 5:19 PM

The U.S. labor market is facing deep strain as more than 1.2 million immigrants vanished from the workforce between January and July, according to preliminary Census Bureau data analyzed by Pew Research Center. Experts warn this sudden decline is disrupting farms, construction sites, and service industries that heavily depend on immigrant labor. With immigrants making up nearly one-fifth of America's workforce, the fallout is expected to ripple across food supply chains, housing projects, and even health care systems nationwide.

Farmers in California's Central Valley are already feeling the shock as immigration enforcement actions have disrupted their harvest seasons. Workers describe l...