L&T staff report
UFCW condemns ICE presence in SW Kansas
Following ICE action in Liberal, Garden City and Dodge City, some businesses either closed or reduced their hours, and National Beef canceled cleanup schedules.
The United Food and Commercial Workers issued a statement condemning the presence of ICE.
“This is an unimaginably difficult time for our communities in Liberal and Dodge City,” UFCW Local 2 President Martin Rosas said. “No one should have to live in fear of going to work, sending their kids to school, or shopping at the grocery store. We are gathering information about ICE’s presence and continue to offer support to UFCW Local 2 members and their families as we navigate this.”
In additional to Rosas, International UFCW President Milton Jones said also reacted to the raids.
“We stand arm-in-arm with all UFCW members in Dodge City and Liberal, and condemn ICE’s presence in Southwest Kansas,” Jones said. “ICE’s targeting of these communities sows fear, instability, and chaos into the lives of those trying to make a living and feed our nation. Local economies cannot thrive unless people feel safe.”
According to Jones, the raids could impact the production of beef products.
“These disruptions directly impact the safety of all workers and the supply of beef,” Jones said. “If supply drops, prices will go up. At a time when working people are already struggling with record-high food costs, our country cannot afford the havoc that these inhumane policies wreak in our communities.”
According to a release from the UFCW, “A recent report from the AFL-CIO found that if the mass deportation plans being executed by the Trump administration continue, nearly 6 million jobs, nearly half of which are currently held by U.S. citizens, could be wiped out. It’s estimated that mass deportations could raise prices by 9.1 percent by 2028.”
While the target may be undocumented workers, the UFCW said the raids affect other workers as well.
“Immigration enforcement, operating out of unmarked cars, in Kansas has targeted U.S. citizens for I.D. checks,” the UFCW release stated. “The presence of ICE can spread fear and cause many workers to stay home, including workers with permanent residence and work authorization, and even people born in this country with citizenship. In Chicago last year, school attendance dropped as ICE patrolled neighborhoods. In cities where ICE arrests increased fastest in 2025, employment fell 0.4 percent below its expected trajectory, and not just among immigrants but among native-born Americans as well. Based on arrest and job loss data, for every arrest made, four jobs were lost. Immigrants with no criminal record are now the largest group in U.S. immigration detention.”
Marshall questions why locals were not informed prior to raids in SW Kansas communities
Senator Roger Marshall also responded to the raids and questioned by ICE did not coordinate with local law enforcement agencies.
“No one has been a stronger proponent of securing our borders and keeping our communities safe than I have,” Rogers said. “Open borders in the last administration vastly increased the number of dangerous illegal immigrants in our country. Our borders are thankfully now secure. During the last two years, ICE and Kansas law enforcement have successfully worked together to remove violent criminals, human traffickers, and drug dealers. However, in recent days in Southwest Kansas, law enforcement officers were not given advance notice or the level of cooperation we would expect from ICE’s enforcement and removal operations. As a result, there have been mass disruptions to local communities and businesses. I have personally spoken with several sheriffs and chiefs of police who have shared their experiences this week. I relayed these concerns directly to DHS. We must keep our communities safe, but it has to be done in a responsible and secure manner.”
