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Misleading narratives around ag labor and water in California hinder the industry. 

By Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice 

Two hot-button issues remain at the forefront of discussions about California agriculture — labor and water. In January alone, fear and confusion on these issues came in the form of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection operation in Kern County and deadly wildfires in Los Angeles, stemming from misinformation spread across social media, activist groups, and some news outlets.  

Misinformation and disinformation about the agricultural industry carry significant social, political, and economic repercussions for regulators, businesses, consumers, and other stakeholders, according to a 2024 study published in the Journal of Food and Water Policy. 

“Misinformation in food and agriculture can manifest in various forms, such as false labeling, deceptive advertising, or misleading claims about food products,” Jamie Woodside, author of “Misinformation in U.S. Food and Agriculture: A Policy Analysis of Impacts and Recommended Solutions” stated. “Likewise, the food and agricultural sectors have been victim of the politicization of scientific issues—such as climate change—and the weaponization of information related to farming practices, agricultural products, and policies.” 

RETURN TO SENDER  

During the week of Jan. 6, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection carried out a three-day mission as part of “Operation Return to Sender” in the Bakersfield and Kern County area wherein border patrol agents with the El Centro Sector Border Patrol arrested 78 individuals.  

According to a statement provided to 17 News by David Kim, assistant chief patrol agent for the El Centro Sector, border patrol deployed 60 agents to the area to focus on alleged drug and human traffickers.  

“Our operation focused on interdicting those who have broken U.S. federal law, trafficking of dangerous substances, non-citizen criminals, and disrupting the transportation routes used by Transnational Criminal Organizations,” the U.S. CBP statement explained.  

Prior to this official statement released on Jan.10, fear spread throughout the Central Valley farmworker community with videos and social media posts showing border agents conducting these arrests and driving in both marked and unmarked vehicles. The Bakersfield Californian reported that the fear led to a “worker shortage” with farm and construction laborers staying home from work. 

Even after the statement from U.S. CBP, not much is known about the recent operation, aside from the reassurance that agents are not targeting local farms or field workers. The arrests involved individuals from Peru, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Ecuador, Mexico, and China.   

According to U.S. CBP’s statement, one subject was a sex offender convicted of raping an 8-year-old girl, another held an active warrant from the Visalia Sheriff’s Department for a sex offense against a minor, and one had a warrant for possession of a weapon out of Tulare County. Additionally, the operation included three separate marijuana seizures, four separate methamphetamine seizures, and multiple DUI convictions.  

“Other criminal histories of those arrested included: failure to appear, tampering with a vehicle, petty theft, felony drug possession, vandalism, burglary, inflicting injury on spouse, and child abuse convictions amongst others,” U.S. CBP stated.  

This statement remains the only official information available regarding the operation’s scope and goals. However, the initial narrative continues to resonate — one portraying the federal government and the incoming Trump administration as a significant threat to California agriculture, fueled by expectations of ongoing mass deportations. 

President Trump had expressed plans during his re-election campaign to carry out large-scale deportations of undocumented immigrants, though those plans have yet to materialize. However, the January operation in Kern County occurred before the new administration took office.  

The chain of command during January’s “Return to Sender” operation is as follows: John Modlin served as the Acting Deputy Commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which operates under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. DHS was headed at the time by Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the first Latino and immigrant to lead the department, appointed by President Joe Biden in 2021. 

News reports from January 10–13 covered the official CBP statement, but some framed the operation as a precursor to the incoming administration’s approach to immigration policy.  

Headlines reflected a range of perspectives, including Redwood News’ “A surprising immigration raid in Kern County foreshadows what awaits farmworkers and businesses,” Breitbart News Network’s “Migrant Roundup in California — A Preview of Coming Trump Deportation Ops, Says CBP Source,” and Inquirer.Net’s “Immigration raids target California communities ahead of Trump inauguration.” 

Since President Trump’s administration was not yet in office during this operation, there is no factual basis for connecting the two events apart from speculative framing by some outlets.  

LOS ANGELES FIRES 

The start of 2025 also saw devastation due to severe wildfires in Los Angeles, which have claimed the lives and homes of many in the area. Firefighters battling the Palisades fire encountered dry fire hydrants, which impeded rescue efforts and led to the spread of misinformation. 

According to a statement from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, its crews and systems in the Pacific Palisades were prepared for the “unprecedented hurricane wind-driven wildfire in an urban area,” but became overwhelmed by the high demands as firefighters continued their efforts. 

As such, while the water supply remained high, water pressure in the system was lost due to the extreme water demand to fight wildfires without aerial support.  

“This impacted our ability to refill the three water tanks supplying the Palisades causing the loss of suction pressure. This impacted 20% of the hydrants in the area, mostly in the higher elevations,” LADWP stated. “As soon as LADWP identified the risk of losing water in the tanks and water pressure in the system, we immediately deployed potable water tankers to sustain support for firefighting efforts.” 

On Jan. 10, Governor Newsom ordered a full, independent review of LADWP, stating that while the overall water supply in Southern California is sufficient, the issue is water mobility in the initial response. 

“The ongoing reports of the loss of water pressure to some local fire hydrants during the fires and the reported unavailability of water supplies from the Santa Ynez Reservoir are deeply troubling to me and to the community,” Newsom said. “While water supplies from local fire hydrants are not designed to extinguish wildfires over large areas, losing supplies from fire hydrants likely impaired the effort to protect some homes and evacuation corridors.” 

Newsom also rebutted President Trump’s claims that the fire hydrants were dry as a result of California’s water policies which regularly and frequently release water to the ocean to protect endangered fish species such as the delta smelt.   

“Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt, by giving it less water (it didn’t work!), but didn’t care about the people of California. Now the ultimate price is being paid. I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA! He is the blame for this. On top of it all, no water for fire hydrants, not firefighting planes. A true disaster!” 

While the state does divert countless acre-feet of water to the ocean to benefit fish species rather than support agriculture, the Central Valley Project does not supply water to Los Angeles.  

Los Angeles relies on the State Water Project, Los Angeles Aqueducts, local groundwater, and water purchased from the Metropolitan Water District, supplied via the Colorado River and California Aqueducts. 

Equipped with this knowledge, it seems unreasonable to cast the blame for the lack of water in the Palisades on agriculture. However, amidst the devastation of the recent wildfires, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals released an article titled “California is Running Out of Water to Fight Fires—It’s Time to Point Fingers at Animal Agriculture,” suggesting that the lack of water in the Palisades is linked to animal agriculture. 

PETA cited a 2012 study by the Pacific Institute claiming that animal agriculture accounts for 47% of California’s water footprint. Yet, a more recent 2023 study from the Public Policy Institute of California reveals that agriculture, as a whole, accounts for approximately 40% of the state’s water usage, with urban use at about 10%, and the remaining 50% allocated for environmental purposes. 

Additionally, the water used in Los Angeles fire hydrants is not the same water allocated for agricultural use.  

LET’S TALK ABOUT FACTS, BABY 

In the midst of a new presidential administration, strained resources, and a labor shortage, California’s agricultural industry is poised to face another year of mis- and disinformation. But farmers and ranchers can dispute these claims with the facts which do not cease to exist just because they are ignored.  

The reality is that California’s agricultural industry plays a vital role in feeding the nation and the world, driving local economies, and providing employment. By focusing on the true data—whether it’s related to water use, labor practices, or environmental sustainability, the industry can cut through the noise and demonstrate its commitment to feeding the nation.  

As the voice for Central Valley farmers, ranchers, and dairy producers, Valley Ag Voice stands as a resource to access the facts. We encourage readers to reach out to our team with any questions or concerns about how their agricultural operations are impacted by social, political, or economic challenges.

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