Food Sleuth Radio Daniel Costa, Director of Immigration Law and Policy Research at the Economic Policy institute, discusses immigration policy and our food system.
Nov 7, 2025
Daniel Costa, an attorney and Director of Immigration Law and Policy Research at the Economic Policy Institute, sheds light on the vital role of immigrant labor in our food system. He shares how immigrants contribute significantly to U.S. workforce growth and the agriculture sector. Costa discusses the exploitative conditions faced by these workers, the lack of penalties for employers hiring undocumented labor, and the need for comprehensive immigration reform. He emphasizes debunking myths about immigrant workers and advocates for stronger protections and pathways to citizenship.
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Roots In Farm Country
- Daniel Costa grew up in California's Central Valley surrounded by farm work and dairies.
- His mother worked in a poultry processing plant while pregnant with him, shaping his interest in farm labor issues.
Immigration Drives Workforce Growth
- Since 1994, all U.S. workforce growth came from immigrants, concentrated in prime-age workers.
- Without immigration the population and workforce would stagnate, undermining economic growth.
Immigrants Power The Food System
- Most food reaching American plates is grown, harvested, and processed by immigrants.
- Crop work is roughly 75–80% immigrants, and meat/poultry processing about 40% or more.