Jose Portillo, the owner of a business in Othello, gazes at a picture of former President Barack Obama hanging near his desk. “Hopefully, you’ll see a picture of Kamala Harris up here soon,” he said, having already mailed his vote.
Portillo, who runs El Coliman, offers services for many H-2A workers and undocumented families, allowing them to send money back home. With the election just two weeks away, he worries that a possible re-election of former President Donald Trump could threaten his business and the broader community in Othello.
“This is a town of immigrants,” Portillo expressed in Spanish. “As business owners, that affects us.”
In Royal City, located just a short drive from Othello, farmworkers were seen on October 24, collecting crates of apples picked earlier in the day.
Washington state’s undocumented population stands at around 246,000, many of whom fill crucial roles across various industries. However, since launching his campaign for another term, Trump has promised to initiate “the largest deportation in the history of our country,” proposing to create a “deportation force” involving federal, state, and local law enforcement.
Although Trump has been unclear about how such a plan would function, associates have indicated that a second term would likely see even more aggressive deportation efforts, which could negatively impact farm owners and businesses in communities like Othello, where nearly 77% of the population is Hispanic.
Local activist Jake Mendez Jr., a member of ACLU Washington, has been advocating for the Hispanic community since the early 2000s. He frequently challenges local projects and speaks for those who feel unrepresented. Mendez expressed his concerns about potential mass deportations but prefers not to dwell on what may happen if Trump is re-elected.
“With no jobs, there’s no economy. With no economy, there’s no business. Who’s going to take those jobs? The Hispanic/Latino community is the majority,” he stated.
Thirty minutes from Othello, Royal City has a population of 2,060, 94% of whom are Hispanic, with 35% working in agriculture. Silverio Hernandez, a foreman for Washington Fruit & Produce in Royal City, noted that both towns have a diverse mix of people, including undocumented workers and H-2A laborers.
“If mass deportation occurs, there will be a clear impact, especially on farms,” Hernandez warned. “We’ve already faced issues due to overtime laws that have hurt the economy. If mass deportation happens, everyone will go out of business. This land was built by immigrants.”
Hernandez pointed out that while many workers are part of the H-2A program, it is often unclear who is undocumented. “We aren’t law enforcement; it’s not our job, and it’s prohibited to ask,” he explained.
Chris Loftis, a spokesman for the Washington State Patrol, stated that agency policy and state law dictate that its troopers do not enforce federal immigration laws. Since being undocumented is a civil matter, a person’s immigration status alone is not subject to state law enforcement. State law also prohibits sharing information about someone’s immigration status unless it relates directly to a crime investigation.
“The Washington State Patrol enforces state laws respectfully and diligently,” Loftis said. “Our policies on immigration enforcement are clear and aim to protect the rights and dignity of all individuals.”
Jose Ramirez, owner of El Paraiso Orchard in Royal City, has closely monitored the presidential election. He believes Trump’s mass deportation plan is mostly “talk” and doubts its execution. However, he warned that if Trump is re-elected and follows through, it would impact more than just those deported.
“If we don’t have agricultural workers, we’ll have to hire people who don’t want to work in the fields, and we’ll have to pay much more. Then we’ll have to sell our products at higher prices. Otherwise, we can’t grow here,” Ramirez explained.
He added that mass deportation could lead to further issues, such as job cuts in schools and family separations.
Paulina Cortez, an undocumented farmworker in Royal City, has been working in Washington’s fields since she was 15. Now 30, she has five children and fears deportation could separate her from them. “I’m not scared for myself, but I am scared of being separated from my kids,” she said in Spanish. Her name has been changed for her safety.
Gloria Salcedo, another undocumented farmworker living south of Royal City, has lived in fear since Trump’s first presidency. She recalls a time when a co-worker warned of an impending ICE raid, prompting her and her fellow workers to leave immediately. “We need someone who will do good for the undocumented population and for farmworkers,” she stated in Spanish. “We can’t continue to live in fear.”
Historically, the largest mass deportation in the U.S. occurred during the Eisenhower Administration in the 1950s, known as “Operation Wetback.” Trump has frequently referenced this initiative. During a rally in Iowa last year, he claimed that following the Eisenhower model would enable the “largest domestic deportation operation in American history.”
In the 1950s, around 1.3 million people were deported, with many invited to work in the fields under the Bracero Program. Justifications for this initiative included the belief that it would benefit the economy, but it ultimately failed.
Despite this history, some community members remain skeptical that a mass deportation plan would significantly impact them. Paula McKay, manager of Mar-Jon Labor, LLC, noted that many Othello workers are part of the H-2A program or have lived in the U.S. for years, suggesting that mass deportation is unlikely to happen. “I think they will provide a pathway to permanent residency or citizenship for those who have been here 10, 20, or 30 years,” she said.
Her colleague, Jon Warling, founder of Mar-Jon, echoed her doubts but emphasized that those who have been in the U.S. for decades should have a clear path to citizenship.
Jose Garza, executive director of the Othello Food Bank, also expressed uncertainty regarding Trump’s potential mass deportation. He emphasized that the established farming industry in Othello might withstand such challenges and hoped the community would unite in the event of deportations.
“I think we’re mostly affected by state laws — especially with a new governor and new officials coming in,” Garza stated. “That’s going to bring change.”
While state laws can present challenges, federal regulations can pose more significant problems. During his first week in office, Trump signed an executive order directing ICE to arrest and deport anyone in the country without authorization. He claimed in April 2017 that “dreamers” should “rest easy” because his administration was not targeting them, but in practice, incidents occurred where DACA recipients were detained.
In response to concerns about deportations, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed an executive order in February 2017 stating that state agencies could not be used to assist federal deportation efforts.
Antonio De Loera-Brust, communications director for United Farm Workers, argues that Trump attempted to cut farmworker wages during his first term, affecting both undocumented and U.S. citizens.
Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh, an analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, noted that a second Trump term would likely see a return to broad immigration restrictions, including cuts to refugee programs and visas aimed at reuniting families and supporting foreign students.
These potential policies add to the concerns of business owners like Portillo. “I’ve run my business for fifteen years. My wife also helps people with DACA renewal applications and citizenship forms,” he said. “If Trump becomes president, it wouldn’t be good.”
Hernandez reiterated these fears, emphasizing that focusing solely on immigration overlooks broader issues. “You can say there are criminal Hispanics, but many Americans are criminals too,” he said in Spanish. “Everyone only wants to focus on immigration.”
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