The year has been particularly challenging for North Carolina’s immigrant population, especially those involved in agricultural work. These migrant workers have been contending with intensified federal immigration policies, extreme weather conditions, and other difficulties.
Leticia Zavala, coordinator for the nonprofit organization It’s Our Future, plays a crucial role in supporting these workers by providing education, organizing efforts, and advocacy. Recently, Zavala brought together partners and volunteers to celebrate the year’s achievements at the People’s Solidarity Hub in Durham, where attendees enjoyed tamales and noisemakers.
Despite the optimism of the event, the reality is that this year has been arduous. Zavala highlighted that “there’s a lot of insecurity for workers as to whether it’s worthwhile to come back or not next year.”
North Carolina’s agricultural sector relies on over 20,000 workers through the H2A visa program. This year, however, those workers faced significant challenges, including reduced wages, extreme heat, and a shortened harvest period. Compounding these issues, the U.S. Department of Labor decreased migrant wages from $16.16 to $12.69, and employers gained the ability to deduct rent from these earnings.
To combat these issues, Zavala and her organization are preparing workers for the upcoming harvest. “We want to prepare workers so that once the harvest hits, they can confront the grower and say, ‘Either you fix this, or we’re going back to Mexico,’” she explained.
In addition to economic hardships, Zavala noted a “fear of rejection” among workers due to a “racist sentiment” that has left them feeling isolated. This sentiment, coupled with the financial strain from tariffs on farm owners, has trickled down to impact the workers.
Nonetheless, Zavala found pride in witnessing the empowerment of workers. “When we first started two years ago, we were getting workers that were calling us and saying, ‘Hey, I have this problem, and I don’t know what to do,’” she recounted. “This year, we got some calls that were workers saying, ‘Hey, I got this problem, and this is what I want to do, and I want you to make sure that you’re on your phone just in case something bad happens.’”
Echoing these sentiments, Sylvia Zapata, executive director of the nonprofit Student Action with Farm Workers, acknowledged the difficulties faced this year. “This year was devastating because it really confirmed our greatest fears of how our community was going to be treated, regardless of status,” she stated.
Looking forward, Zapata expressed a sense of readiness for future challenges. “For next year, I feel like we’re more prepared. That’s the word,” she said.
