Latest news with #SidMiller
New York Post
5 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Illegal immigrants not showing up to work for fear of ICE raids: ‘It's sheer panic'
A crackdown on undocumented workers by the Trump administration has sent shockwaves through the nation's farms, factories and food supply chains — prompting warnings of worker shortages and higher prices. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller sounded the alarm this week as immigration raids continue to disrupt labor across the state's farming industry — particularly in dairy operations. Miller told Bloomberg that the situation has become more dire for livestock producers amid growing absenteeism among workers fearful of being detained. Advertisement 'Those cows, they have to be milked every eight hours, so if milkhands are gone, what are you going to do? It's sheer panic,' he said. 5 Farmworkers work in a jalepeno field in Oxnard, Calif. on June 12. Undocumented labor is a key component of agriculture in the United States. AFP via Getty Images Dairy farms across Texas are struggling to maintain routine operations as both undocumented and legal workers stay home to avoid potential encounters with immigration authorities, according to Bloomberg News. Advertisement The increased presence of ICE agents, combined with confusion over federal enforcement policy, has led to widespread uncertainty. Though Trump briefly suggested farms might be spared, the Department of Homeland Security reaffirmed Thursday that agents are to target anyone in the country without legal status. 'President Trump was elected on his promise to enforce federal immigration law and he is doing just that,' Abigail Jackson, a White House spokesperson, told The Post. 5 Day laborers waits for work at a 'no hassle zone' in Fairfield County, Conn. on June 17. Getty Images Advertisement 'The Trump Administration is primarily focused on deporting criminal illegal aliens, especially prioritizing those in dangerous Sanctuary Cities.' Jackson added that 'any suggestion that enforcing immigration law will hurt the workforce misses the forest for the trees – over one in ten young adults in America are neither employed, in higher education, nor pursuing some sort of vocational training.' 'There is no shortage of American minds and hands to grow our labor force.' The Department of Agriculture estimates that more than 40% of US farmworkers are undocumented. Advertisement Shay Myers, who runs one of America's largest onion farms — Owyhee Produce in Idaho — warned: 'We will not feed our people in this country without these workers, plain and simple.' He told Bloomberg News that he's had to abandon planting some crops due to labor shortages, noting it costs over $21,000 per legal H-2A visa worker for just four months of harvest work. 5 Protesters denounce the ongoing raids and deportations by the Trump administration in Washington, DC, on June 10. Getty Images Texas peach grower Katelyn Eames described the reality on her farm. 'If it weren't for them, there would be no peaches,' she told Bloomberg News, referring to foreign visa workers. 'If you think a US citizen wanted to pick 500 acres of my dad's peaches in the last 60 years, you would be sadly mistaken.' 5 A protester (right) demonstrates near masked federal agents staged outside a gate of Dodger Stadium on Thursday. Getty Images In California alone, mass deportations could slash $275 billion from the state's economy and cut $23 billion in annual tax revenue, according to a new report by the Bay Area Council Economic Institute and UC Merced. Advertisement While some sectors have turned to technology or legal visa programs like H-2A to fill gaps, those options remain expensive and time-consuming. Farmers say they're caught between federal crackdowns and the practical realities of food production. Even industries previously seen as 'off limits' are feeling the pressure. 5 Federal agents detain an unidentified man in New York City in this undated photo. Robert Miller Advertisement After a high-profile June 6 ICE raid, Los Angeles' Fashion District saw a 40% drop in casual visits and nearly a quarter fewer employees showing up, according to local business leaders. Jackson disputed the implication that immigration raids were to blame for this, telling The Post: 'Violent rioters in Los Angeles, enabled by failed Democrat leaders Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass, have vandalized small businesses, set cars on fire, and created a lawless, chaotic environment.' 'Newsom's refusal to quell this behavior is crushing businesses who rely on a safe environment to draw in customers,' according to Jackson, who added: 'It's the Democrat riots – not enforcement of federal immigration law – that is hurting small businesses.' The Post has sought comment from Newsom.
New York Post
2 days ago
- Science
- New York Post
Beware toxic, foot-long worms invading US — here's what to do if you see the ‘demonic flesh-eaters'
Stop, hammertime! Weeks of heavy rain have prompted a plague of massive, toxic hammerhead flatworms to erupt from the ground in North Texas, much to the chagrin of frightened locals. 'It was terrifying, like these are truly the end times, even the worms are demonic,' Keller resident Adam Ingle told NBC5 of the subterranean scourge, which reared its hammerhead in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston regions. Named for their flat, ball-peen-evoking noggins, these foot-long invertebrates secrete neurotoxins that can irritate human skin upon contact and also poison pets that ingest them. 4 Adam Ingle vents about the flathead worms. NBCDFW 4 A video of the worms wriggling on the surface of the soil. @carliebenton/TikTok 4 The hammerhead worms were introduced to the US from Asia in the late 1800s. Sandra Burm – These invaders also prey on native species such as the earthworms that tend the soil, which can impact the environment. Since arriving in the US from Southeast Asia in the late 1800s, the worms have spread across the nation, cropping up everywhere from the Pacific Northwest to New York and most recently, North Texas, despite having been in the Lone Star State for decades. 4 'Tear it in half, now you've got two worms,' said Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller while warning of their regenerative capabilities. Craig – While they generally prefer to remain underground out of the sunlight, the heavy torrents brought these wriggling menaces to the surface, as seen in multiple viral TikTok videos of the groundbreaking phenomenon. 'In one of the creepy videos, the worms are wriggling on the surface of the soil like a miniature version of the monsters from 'Tremors' while another shows a lengthy specimen inching its way across an envelope. A third depicts one of the vacuum-headed critters crawling across a screen. 'Houstonnn we have a problem!!' the poster wrote in the caption. 'You don't want this guy in your garden or near your pets!' Unfortunately, eliminating this tiny terror is no mean feat — chopping them in half only increases their numbers as they reproduce asexually. 'Don't kill it, don't squish it, don't cut it up, because it makes three or four more worms,' warned Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, per NBC5. 'Tear it in half, now you've got two worms.' To dispatch hammerhead worms, experts advise bagging the worms and freezing them for up to 48 hours or leaving them in a salt and vinegar solution. Due to their toxic nature, homeowners should avoid touching them without wearing gloves or other protection, even if they're already dead.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New World Screwworm Threatens Texas Agriculture
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is calling for quick intervention to fight the growing threat of the New World screwworm. This flesh-eating bug has cattle ranchers and agricultural leaders across the state on edge. In a statement published last week, Miller celebrated the Department of Agriculture's recent $21 million investment to expand sterile fly production in Metapa, Mexico—a big step in the fight against the screwworm flies that devastated livestock throughout the country in the 1960s. 'The New World Screwworm cannot be eliminated with half-hearted efforts,' Miller said. 'Actual eradication requires the strategic release of millions of sterile flies. I was skeptical of the Biden Administration's approach, but this collaborative effort led by Secretary Brooke Rollins at the United States Department of Agriculture, coupled with strong leadership from Texas Congressional members, will expand North American sterile fly production, marking a crucial step forward.' Miller's support follows recent reports from southern Mexico that screwworm infestations are creeping north, raising alarms for ranchers in the Lone Star State. According to a study by the World Organization for Animal Health, the parasite's larvae are known to burrow into the wounds of living mammals, including livestock, pets, and even humans, causing extensive tissue damage and potentially death. Miller said the USDA's new investment showcases international cooperation in the battle against the pest. 'This reinforces our defenses and strengthens our international partnership. Secretary Rollins recognizes the seriousness of this threat and is utilizing appropriate tools with necessary urgency to protect American agriculture,' Miller added. Miller also endorsed the STOP Screwworms Act, which was recently introduced by Rep. Tony Gonzales and Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz. The legislation would create a domestic 'sterile fly production facility' in Texas to boost the USDA's efforts and secure a steady supply of sterile flies for quick 'deployment' across the state. Apparently, as experts previously noted, sterile flies are one of the best solutions to fight the northern migration of the New World screwworm. Meanwhile, Texas A&M University is ramping up its own efforts to protect the cattle industry from the looming screwworm threat. Last week, the university announced a $5 million donation from the Rosenthal family to support a new Meat Science and Technology Center at its campus in Bryan, Texas. State officials, outside of Miller's efforts, continue to urge ranchers to remain vigilant for signs of the parasite and to report any cases immediately to the Texas Animal Health Commission or the USDA. Experts warn that the 'reintroduction 'of the New World screwworm could have devastating economic impacts in certain areas, not just for ranchers but also for consumers already facing high beef and overall grocery prices. As The Dallas Express previously reported, Americans are still reeling from the pressures of skyrocketing grocery prices, which the Biden Administration unleashed before he left office.
New York Times
31-03-2025
- General
- New York Times
3 States Issue Warnings About Unsolicited Packages of Seeds
People in Alabama, Texas and New Mexico have reported receiving seeds in packages apparently sent from China, prompting officials in those states to warn residents not to plant them because the seeds could sprout into invasive plants. Unsolicited seed packets also arrived in mailboxes in many states in 2020, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture received thousands of reports of Americans receiving seeds in packages with Chinese characters. Federal investigators said the evidence indicated the packages sent in 2020 were part of a 'brushing scam' in which sellers mail inexpensive items to unsuspecting recipients and then post bogus customer reviews to boost online ratings and sales. There was no evidence the seeds were intended to harm American agriculture, officials said at the time. In recent months, seed packages have arrived in Alabama, Texas and New Mexico, according to officials in those states. The Texas Department of Agriculture said this month that it had collected 311 unsolicited seed packages from 64 locations, including the first instance of a live plant being mailed unsolicited to a Texas resident. The packages appeared to have come from China, based on their postmarks and Chinese characters on the packaging, according to Sid Miller, the Texas agriculture commissioner. They contained seeds for vegetables, weeds, grasses and at least one invasive aquatic plant, he said. While it was unclear whether the seeds were part of another brushing scam, the circumstances appeared to be similar to 2020, the Texas Agriculture Department said in a statement. Residents who receive unsolicited seeds should keep them sealed in their original packaging and contact agricultural officials, Mr. Miller said. 'We must stay vigilant and not assume that every package contains harmless plant material,' Mr. Miller said in a statement. 'Although many of these seeds are not listed as noxious plants by the federal government, they still pose a significant national biosecurity threat that should not be overlooked.' The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries has received six reports of unsolicited seeds arriving in the mail, a spokeswoman said on Monday. Some of the packages also appeared to have come from China, including at least one that said 'Made in China' on the pouch that contained the seeds. The seeds were identified as tomato and onion seeds and tested negative for harmful compounds, the department said. 'We urge all residents to be on the lookout for similar packages,' Rick Pate, Alabama's commissioner of agriculture and industries, said in a statement. 'These seeds may be invasive to Alabama plants or be harmful to livestock.' A spokeswoman for the New Mexico Department of Agriculture said it had received one report of a resident receiving a packet of unsolicited seeds. 'These unauthorized seed shipments violate state and federal law and pose serious risks to our agriculture and environment,' Katie Laney, a New Mexico agricultural official, said in a statement. 'Unknown seeds could introduce invasive species or plant diseases that threaten New Mexico's ecosystems and farming communities.' In 2020, federal investigators said that at least 14 of the seed varieties that were mailed to unsuspecting residents had been identified as a 'mix of ornamental fruit and vegetable, herb and weed species.' Among the plant species botanists identified were cabbage, hibiscus, lavender, mint, morning glory, mustard, rose, rosemary and sage, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. 'It was nothing nefarious,' Osama El-Lissy, a former deputy administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, who was involved in tracking the seed packages in 2020, said in an interview on Monday. 'It was more of a business gimmick.' Still, Mr. El-Lissy said, the seeds posed a concern because they could have carried invasive pests — a point other experts also emphasized with the latest round of mysterious seeds. 'It's hard to know the real intent behind the seed packets, but in the past these have been tied to scams,' said David L. Ortega, an expert in agricultural economics and food policy at Michigan State University. People who receive the packages should be cautious but not alarmed, he said. 'The biggest thing is don't plant them — and contact your local or state-level agriculture office and let them be aware,' Dr. Ortega said.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
For the First Time in 80 Years, the U.S. Denies Mexico's Request for Water
For the first time in more than 80 years, the U.S. has denied Mexico's request for water from the Colorado River, escalating tensions over a water-sharing agreement between the two nations. The State Department says it denied the request because Mexico hasn't complied with the 1944 treaty that established the water-sharing system. That agreement requires Mexico to send 1.75 million acre-feet of water from the Rio Grande to the U.S. every five years. In turn, the U.S. must send 1.5 million acre-feet of water to Mexico from the Colorado River each year. By the end of 2024, Mexico had delivered only a quarter of what it owed for the current five-year period, which ends in October. Mexico has been struggling with severe droughts for several years. In the first quarter of 2024, the country's agricultural production fell by 6.1 percent, according to a report from the Bank of Mexico. Activity in the north-central regions, which includes the border states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, and Nuevo León, fell by 3.3 percent. The country has sought emergency water deliveries to alleviate the strain on its water systems. The International Boundary and Water Commission and Conagua, Mexico's national water utility, are addressing the request denial, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum told reporters. While this is the first denied request, this is not the first time that the treaty has caused tension in U.S.-Mexican relations. In 2020, Mexican farmers revolted over sending water to the U.S. during an extreme drought. In 2024, late water payments from Mexico to the U.S. caused the Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers mill in Santa Rosa, Texas, to shut down. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller told Texas Monthly at the time that "asking Mexico nicely for 20 or 25 years" hadn't worked. "We've got to get their attention somehow, with some kind of sanctions. They're gonna have to feel the pain." A bipartisan congressional delegation urged their colleagues to withhold funding to Mexico until water was delivered. The U.S. could be within its legal rights to deny the waiver. If so, this will almost certainly harm agricultural production in Mexico, which is a significant provider of produce to the U.S. Food price hikes are already on the way, thanks to tariffs, and this could end up squeezing American consumers even more. The post For the First Time in 80 Years, the U.S. Denies Mexico's Request for Water appeared first on
