Ranchers Accuse Trump Administration of Disrupting Beef Supply, as Prices Rise

President Donald Trump’s immigration raids are disrupting the country’s beef supply, industry groups say, warning the turmoil will raise the price of a staple food for American consumers.

In recent days, Immigration and Customs Enforcement sweeps in cattle country, where immigrants make up a large share of the workforce, have led to the delayed shipment of thousands of cattle to processing plants, according to cattle associations in Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma.

The ICE activity has already resulted in millions of dollars in lost revenue and added costs, according to reports from the members of the groups. The disruption “will lead to higher beef prices for consumers,” the groups said.

“These ICE operations are having a massive chilling effect on the legal, documented, skilled workers that put beef on the table and keep the cattle supply chain moving,” a joint statement from the Texas Cattle Feeders Association, Kansas Livestock Association and Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association posted on X said.

In recent days, heightened ICE presence has been reported in cattle ranching and feeding country throughout Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. Meatpacking communities of southwest Kansas, including Dodge City, Liberal and Garden City, have been hit especially hard.

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ICE disruptions “are a costly and unnecessary impact to cattle producers already suffering from unwelcome political interference to both the markets as well as the physical supply chain,” the trade groups said.

“Our organizations respect the responsibility of federal agencies to enforce the law,” they added. “At the same time, cattle producers, feedyards, dairies, livestock markets, processors, and other rural businesses depend on a stable workforce to care for animals, protect food safety, and keep the supply chains operating.”