KFU Board of Directors Statement on Re-humanizing Immigration Policy

Recent ICE raids in Southwest Kansas have caused significant disruption for families, communities, and the agricultural economy. While immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, these actions have deeply affected the people who sustain our rural communities and the industries that rely on them.

Immigrants are essential to Kansas agriculture and to the social, cultural, and economic fabric of our state. Kansas Farmers Union supports improving legal pathways for the specialized labor agriculture requires, paired with fair, dignified treatment for all workers.

The root word of agriculture is “culture,” and immigrants have long brought so much to the culture of our communities - and to agriculture itself - for generations. We must work together to “re-humanize” immigration and agriculture policy versus the dehumanization that is currently taking place.

The nation’s immigration system is decades out of date. We urge Congress to make comprehensive, bipartisan immigration reform a top priority. Reform must protect workers, support businesses, keep families together, and create a reliable, affordable process to determine work eligibility for a growing economy.

For those wishing to help families affected by the recent raids, we encourage supporting trusted local efforts, including places of worship and community organizations such as Dodge City Church of the Nazarene https://dcnazarene.churchcenter.com/giving/to/help-ayuda Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas https://catholiccharitiesswks.org/ and National Appleseed https://deportationpreparation.org/