ESL Debate – ICE protests in the USA, june 2025

Level: B2+

ICE Protests in the USA – Debate Points – Worksheet 1

PROS

1. Encourages civic participation and shows that people care enough to demand change.
2. Demonstrations often lead to policy debates, government responses, or even new laws.
3. Brings together diverse groups who may not otherwise collaborate.
4. Builds long-term social and political networks for future organizing.
5. Strengthens local community organizing and grassroots power.
6. Engages younger generations in politics and activism.
7. Strengthens the movement for comprehensive immigration reform, including paths to citizenship and fairer visa processes.
8. ICE should not be allowed to detain people without due process.
9. The National Guard should not be used to suppress peaceful protests.

CONS

1. Peaceful protesters often face tear gas, arrests, or force due to the actions of a small group.
2. Some individuals or organized groups use protests as cover for looting or vandalism, with no real political motive.
3. Many business owners lose inventory, windows, and months of income, and some never reopen.
4. Protests can sometimes escalate into clashes with law enforcement or counter-protesters, leading to injuries or property damage.
5. Many people, including those sympathetic to the cause, become confused or alienated when protests turn destructive.
6. Insurance doesn’t always cover the full damage — especially in underinsured neighborhoods.
7. Looting and destruction can drown out the original message of the protest.
8. Media and public attention often shift from the reasons people protested to the violence that occurred.
9. This weakens public support for reform and gives critics ammunition.

Note! Distinguishing between peaceful protesters, agitators, and opportunistic looters is crucial for understanding what really happened.

NEWS – California ICE Protests

1. ICE Raids on US Farms Leaves Crops Rotting

2. US undocumented farm workers feel ‘hunted like animals’ amid Trump’s immigration raids

3. ICE raids leave crops unharvested at California farms: ‘We need the labor’.

4. ICE raids and their uncertainty scare off workers and baffle businesses

5. 100% didn’t show up to work due to raids, farmer says.

6. ICE-Fueled Worker Shortage Threatens US Food Supply Chain

7. California is not only the top fruit and vegetable producer in the U.S., but it also plays a major role in global food supply — especially when it comes to almonds, grapes, and leafy greens.

8. There are 2.4 million farmworkers in the United States, according to the Economic Policy Institute, 40% of whom the Agriculture Department estimates lack legal status.

9. Cannabis farmworker in California is on life support after chaotic federal immigration raid, family says.

10. Who’s in ICE detention in California? According to ICE, less than 30% are criminals.

FACTS:

• California is not only the top fruit and vegetable producer in the U.S., but it also plays a major role in global food supply — especially when it comes to almonds, grapes, and leafy greens.
• Over 50–60% of all U.S.-grown fruits and vegetables come from California.
• California ships hundreds of thousands of truckloads of produce annually to other states.
• There are 2.4 million farmworkers in the United States, according to the Economic Policy Institute, 40% of whom the Agriculture Department estimates lack legal status.
• California was the first state targeted by ICE during Trump’s second term in office, as large-scale immigration raids began in Los Angeles and the Bay Area in mid-2025.

ESL Debate Speaking Practice – ICE Protests – Nebraska Case

Questions:

1. How wise is it to conduct mass arrests of agricultural workers in the middle of harvest season, when food supply chains depend on them the most? ***Could this timing reflect poor planning or a deeper political motive?
2. If ICE raids were deemed necessary, wouldn’t it have been more logical and economically responsible to wait until after the harvest was complete? ***What are the economic consequences of such timing, both short- and long-term?
3. What is the actual goal of these enforcement actions — to improve national security, or to create a political spectacle? ***Who really benefits from these high-profile raids, and who suffers?
4. Why did the Trump administration fail to uphold its campaign promise to reduce food prices, while taking actions that directly contributed to rising costs for consumers? ***Can strict immigration enforcement coexist with affordable agriculture?
5. Are there alternative immigration solutions that would support both national security and the stability of the food supply chain? ***Could regularization programs or temporary work visas be a better approach?
6. How do these raids affect American farmers who rely heavily on seasonal immigrant labor? ***Are they being punished indirectly for a broken immigration system?
7. Could these raids worsen labor shortages and increase food waste, especially when crops go unharvested?
8. Are immigration enforcement strategies aligned with broader national interests like food security and inflation control?

FACTS:

1. Soybeans also make up a large share of Nebraska’s exports. These are primarily sent to countries such as China and Mexico, where they are processed into oil, food products, and animal feed.
2. Nebraska is a major agricultural state, and its economy relies heavily on the export of farm-related goods. One of its leading exports is beef. As one of the top beef-producing states in the U.S., Nebraska ships large quantities of processed beef to international markets, especially to countries like Japan and South Korea, where demand for high-quality American beef is strong.
3. In addition to beef, corn is a cornerstone of Nebraska’s agricultural exports. The state’s vast cornfields contribute significantly to both domestic use and international trade. Corn is used directly as food and feed, but it also supports Nebraska’s ethanol industry.
4. Agriculture executives, farm industry officials and economists tell CNN that if Trump keeps his deportation promises, groceries will get more expensive — perhaps much more expensive.