Immigration and Wine

by | Feb 22, 2018


Immigration and WineThe Trump administration is tightening the laws on immigration into the United States and some of our biggest industries are being impacted.

It’s no secret that President Trump wants to tighten our borders and make it harder for illegal immigrants to enter the country. But in California, the reality is that many of the state’s biggest industries rely on migrant workers.

For example: wine. According to the California Association of Grape Growers, the wine industry contributes $114 billion dollars a year to the U.S. economy. And helping that industry flourish; thousands of migrant workers. I recently spoke with winemaker Robert Foley about the crackdown:

“Labor here is getting more challenged with people having to look over their shoulders wondering if they’re going to be deported. Fortunately, in our camp we’ve got a big family of people that are all U.S. Citizens, so personally that’s not a problem for me, but I do know that is a problem industry-wise.”

As this all plays out on capitol hill, hopefully the wine industry isn’t left searching for answers… or we could be left with an empty glass.

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Brian Banmiller

About Brian

CBS News Radio national business journalist Brian Banmiller has spent more than 40 years in the news industry, covering business, politics and the economy on television, radio and in print. Currently, his “Banmiller on Business” reports are delivered to an audience of millions nationwide.

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