Colorado farmer is left without Mexican and Central American employees due to deportations and criticizes Trump: “They are not criminals”

President Donald Trump’s aggressive policies targeting immigrant communities in the United States, particularly his mass deportation plan, are having consequences that extend far beyond what his administration may have anticipated.

The scale of deportations proposed by the White House is unprecedented, shedding light on the darker realities of the country’s broken immigration system. A 2018 report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimated that around half of all agricultural workers in the U.S. “lacked the U.S. immigration status needed to work legally in this country.” Since then, little has been done to support these workers, leaving them vulnerable to exploitative working conditions with little recourse when their rights are violated. Their vulnerable immigration status can lead employers to pay them rates below the federal minimum wage and force them to work long hours without overtime pay. The work is grueling and physically demanding, especially during the extreme weather of winter and summer months. Without adequate protections—such as shade, access to water, and regular breaks—workers face serious health risks, including heatstroke and fatigue.

The unknown farmer going viral on Spanish-language TikTok

On the Spanish-language side of TikTok, videos are circulating that highlight the impact these policies are having on immigrants and US citizens who employ migrant workers. One such video, receiving much attention, reportedly features a Colorado farmer who believes seven of his Latin American workers may have been deported. The farmer, who employed workers from Mexico and Central America, claimed that none of them showed up for work one day. After visiting their homes and finding no trace of them, he returned to his farm, deeply concerned about their whereabouts. Here is one example of the type of video being circulating, which was posted by Anews Acapulco.

Finding the exact video is challenging, as other content creators have jumped on the trend, sharing various clips from different users. One video even overlays a voiceover from another user, beardednorse1, who has posted emotional content about his personal struggles and dissatisfaction with both political parties. However, beardednorse1 is not the same individual featured in the posts about the Colorado farmer.

A regional outlet from Mexico used the name James when referring to the man in the video but did not provide any other identifying information.

While the exact user behind the original video remains unknown, the broader issues plaguing the agricultural sector are undeniable. Farmers in California’s Central Valley, for example, have reported that workers are failing to show up out of fear of being arrested on the job.

The impact of ICE operations on the US agricultural sector and its workers

ICE’s regional offices have reportedly been directed to detain at least 1,200 individuals daily, a mandate that has even led to the arrests of U.S. citizens, including members of the Navajo Nation.

In the livestream, the Colorado farmer is said to have expressed his belief that his workers had been taken into federal custody. He described them as good, hardworking people—not criminals—who simply wanted to earn an honest living to support their families. To him, they were like family, and he pleaded for any information about their whereabouts, emphasizing his desire to ensure they were safe and being treated with dignity and fairness.

Special note: If anyone has information on how to get in touch with the individual seen in the video, please get in touch through X/Twitter. Thanks.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.