Farm Labor Fears Grow in Oregon Agriculture Sector

ICE Arrests of Vineyard Owner Worry Oregon Farm Groups

Farmers in Oregon are raising alarms after U.S. immigration officers arrested vineyard manager Moises Sotelo Casas and an employee in Yamhill County.

The Oregon Farm Bureau, the state’s largest agriculture group, says the incident underscores growing instability in farm labour.

Sotelo Casas, a respected community member and vineyard business owner in Newberg, was detained while driving to work.

ICE claims he was previously deported in 2006 and had a DUI conviction. But local court records only show two speeding tickets. The Farm Bureau is helping connect farmers and workers with legal resources.

“Labor is always a concern for farmers because unlike other industries, it requires a labor force that is willing to work,” said Austin McClister, a Farm Bureau spokesperson. “And most domestic workers don’t apply for jobs. And if we don’t have workers, we don’t get people fed.”

One-third of Oregon’s agricultural workers may be undocumented, making them vulnerable to enforcement actions.

Although the administration briefly paused farm-related raids, the decision was quickly reversed, leaving many farm communities uncertain.

Despite political divides, farmers agree on the need for a stable workforce. The Farm Bureau, while not taking a political position, supports long-term solutions and legislative reforms.

Supporters of Sotelo Casas, a father and grandfather active in his church and community, launched a GoFundMe that raised over $100,000 to assist with legal fees. ICE transferred him from Washington to Arizona detention.

“We want to keep farming sustainable,” McClister said. “That sustainability requires a sustainable workforce.”