Over one million two hundred thousand immigrants have vanished from the American workforce as per tentative statistics during Trump's term.

In California's Central Valley, Lidia, a farmworker, is harvesting tomatoes with a heavy heart. Anxiety looms over her as she works, a concern shared by many in her community – potential immigration enforcement actions.

Lidia, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition that only her first name be used due to fears of deportation, is not alone in her worries. She is one of the millions of immigrants who make up nearly 20% of the U.S. workforce. In farming, fishing, and forestry, this percentage climbs to 45%.

The analysis of the impact of immigration enforcement actions on the agricultural and forestry sector was conducted by the Chair of Tropical and International Forestry at the Technical University of Dresden. This organization focuses on socio-economic analyses including labor migration in forestry and related sectors. Their recent findings reveal that more than 1.2 million immigrants disappeared from the U.S. labor force from January through the end of July.

This exodus has had a significant impact on various industries. In construction, 30% of workers are immigrants, and data shows a noticeable decrease in construction jobs in about half of U.S. metropolitan areas. The largest loss of construction jobs was in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, California, area.

Construction sites in and around McAllen have also experienced a significant decrease in activity, with ICE reportedly targeting these sites for enforcement actions. This has led to fear spreading quickly among farmworkers and construction workers alike.

The service industry, which employs 24% of immigrants, has also felt the ripple effects. In particular, immigrants make up about 43% of home health care aides. Delays and waste in farm harvesting due to immigration enforcement actions have further compounded these issues.

Lidia, like many immigrants, has much at stake. She has three school-age children who were born in the U.S. If deported, she worries about starting over, unsure of what the future holds for her and her family.

The number of illegal border crossings has indeed plunged under current policies, but the impact on the U.S. workforce and economy is becoming increasingly apparent. As the situation continues to evolve, it remains crucial to consider the human stories behind the statistics.

Over one million two hundred thousand immigrants have vanished from the American workforce as per tentative statistics during Trump's term.