Meatpacking industry groups raised concerns on Friday that recent heightened immigration operations in Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma have caused employees to miss work, leading to problems at meat-related businesses that could ultimately raise prices for consumers. The Texas Cattle Feeders Association, Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association, and Kansas Livestock Association said in a statement that Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations have prompted delays in the shipment of thousands of cattle, resulting in millions of dollars in lost revenue, per the AP. The groups say ICE operations have disrupted operations at feedlots, dairy processors, feed and grain companies, and transportation hubs.
The KLA's Scarlett Madinger said they've received multiple calls from their members reporting an increase in absences at their southwest Kansas businesses after these communities noticed an increase in federal immigration officers this week. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed their presence in Kansas but said they aren't conducting worksite raids. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a statement that ICE has been "targeting heinous criminals," but he didn't give a breakdown on the number of people arrested.
Several meatpacking plants in the Kansas cities of Dodge City, Liberal, and Garden City typically process thousands of cattle every day, but Madinger said some had to shut down temporarily and send cattle back to feedlots. "So then they're having to be returned back to the feed yard to wait, which, of course, causes an animal health issue, causes financial issues," she said. The KLA didn't receive reports of arrests happening at worksites, but community members started noticing the arrival of officers on Tuesday.
Several of the Kansas cities where ICE enforcement appears to have increased have large Hispanic populations. Their populations have risen in the last decade from new immigrant arrivals, mostly from Cuba and Haiti, per federal data. KLA members are urging federal officials to conduct more targeted enforcement actions and provide more transparency. Beef prices have soared to record highs in the past year, largely thanks to the smallest national herd in 75 years. "If it continues for a long enough period of time, then it could therefore lead to increased prices, because we are not processing the amount of beef that consumers are currently demanding," Madinger said.
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