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Farmworkers March in Delano on César Chávez Day to Protest Immigration Policies
DELANO, Calif. – Marking César Chávez Day, thousands of farmworkers and union advocates marched in Delano, California, protesting current immigration policies and honoring the legacy of the historic Delano grape strike. Carolina Sanchez, a member of the United Farm Workers (UFW), spearheaded the mobilization, drawing over 5,000 participants to the Forty Acres site, a location of significance in Chávez’s early activism.
UFW Organizer Inspired by Historic Grape Strike
Carolina Sanchez’s journey with the United Farm Workers began in 2016 when the blueberry farm employing her altered its pay structure to a per-pound rate. “They stated if you disagreed with the compensation, you could leave,” Sanchez recounted.
In response, Sanchez organized a strike among the 500 farmworkers at the Delano farm, with the backing of the UFW. Their collective action led to a union contract, and Sanchez was subsequently elected as their union representative.
This month, Sanchez commenced efforts to rally her colleagues for a march she was leading on Monday, César Chávez Day, commemorating the labor leader’s birth and legacy.
March Commemorates Delano Grape Strike, Focuses on Immigration Concerns
Sixty years prior, the landmark Delano grape strike initiated Chávez’s iconic 280-mile march to Sacramento, uniting Filipino American and Mexican American farmworkers. This year’s demonstration, echoing that historic mobilization, brought together United Farm Worker members and allies in Delano’s Memorial Park for a march to Forty Acres, the site of Chávez’s first public fast.
This year’s march, themed “con estas manos,” meaning “with these hands,” spotlighted concerns over the present administration’s immigration enforcement strategies. Organizers aimed to underscore the crucial role of farmworkers in the nation’s food supply.
Fear and Anxiety Rise Among California Farmworkers
Farmworkers in California, responsible for cultivating a substantial portion of the nation’s produce—one-third of vegetables and three-fourths of fruits and nuts—are experiencing heightened apprehension due to increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in the Central Valley. Studies indicate that approximately half of California’s farmworkers are undocumented. National figures from the U.S. Agriculture Department suggest around 42% of farmworkers lack legal immigration status.
Armando Elenes, UFW Secretary Treasurer, suggests these figures may underestimate the reality. “We estimate it’s closer to 60 or 70 percent undocumented farmworkers in California,” he stated.
Elenes also noted that ICE has reportedly detained and deported roughly 200 farmworkers in Kern County. He emphasized that calls for temporary work visas are insufficient, advocating for more comprehensive labor protections for workers vulnerable to detention and family separation.
“We must challenge the federal government,” Elenes urged. “We require state and local regulations that ensure sick leave, heat safeguards, and health care for our workforce.”
Solidarity and Diverse Voices at the March
The march featured speakers from various labor organizations, including the California Federation of Labor Unions and SEIU California. California Attorney General Rob Bonta also addressed the crowd, sharing his personal connection to the movement.
“Being here feels like returning home,” Bonta stated. “I was raised with my parents working for United Farm Workers, understanding that the struggle transcends specific crops; it’s about the people.” Bonta’s mother was instrumental in organizing Filipino and Mexican farmworkers.
For farmworkers like Gabriel Leal, who harvests grapes and cherries, the considerable turnout offered a sense of solidarity, especially after ICE raids in January impacted his community. “They were positioned along roads, stopping everyone,” Leal explained. “Despite the fear, we must continue working—without us, who will sustain our families and the nation’s food supply?”
Divergent Perspectives on Immigration Enforcement
However, opinions on current immigration policies are not uniform across the region. Alex Dominguez, a Kern County resident from a multi-generational agricultural background and a Republican, expressed cautious optimism regarding ICE actions.
“I acknowledge the anxieties within the broader community regarding increased law enforcement presence,” Dominguez, a water and agriculture attorney, commented. “However, from my perspective, those being apprehended are individuals engaged in unlawful activities, which enhances safety for our Latino families.”
Dominguez, also Vice President of the Kern County Farm Bureau, emphasized that he is attuned to the perspectives of growers, ranchers, and farmworkers, but believes current immigration measures have not hindered their ability to work. “These workers are compelled to earn a living; abstaining from work is not viable,” Dominguez asserted.
March Aims to Demonstrate Support, Not Change Minds
Paul Chavez, son of César Chávez, clarified the march’s objective: “Our aim isn’t to alter opinions, but to unite those who oppose racism and xenophobia, demonstrating that they have widespread support.”
Sanchez expressed hope that the march would send a clear message of support to immigrant workers everywhere.
“All farmworkers understand Chávez’s achievements and will always remember his legacy,” Sanchez concluded.