Hidden in the Ashes: Migrant Farmworkers are Invisible During California Wildfires
Last fall, the wildfires in California made international news. But there are forgotten victims.
As the International Organization for Migration reports, migrant farmworkers in California contribute to an economically profitable agricultural system. Yet they are among the most vulnerable communities. Most migrant farmworkers are members of the working poor with limited to no access to health care. Anti-immigrant sentiment partnered with racism make life for migrants in the State difficult at best. Migrant vulnerabilities are amplified during times of disasters and their risk of experiencing negative consequences are disproportionately higher.
When the wildfires broke out throughout the state of California, I immediately thought about migrant workers and their families and how they are faring through the emergency. My experience during the 2007 wildfires taught me that crises like these usually affect the migrant community disproportionately as they tend to not have access to information, resources or support in times of disaster.
KJ