A group of cattle producers from Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma are warning that ongoing U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement operations have threatened the country's beef supply chain.

A September 24 statement from the Texas Cattle Feeders Association, the Kansas Livestock Association and the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association asserts that ICE operations "are having a massive chilling effect" on legal, documented workers across the beef industry, in a time where the sector has already faced pressure from higher costs and dwindling cattle herds.

"Cattle producers, feedyards, dairies, livestock markets, processors, and other rural businesses depend on a stable workforce to care for animals, protect food safety, and keep the supply chains operating," the coalition said. "Sudden workforce disruptions can create immediate animal-welfare, operational, and economic consequences that extend well beyond an individual business."

The group reported that in just the past few days, ICE operations have led to shipping delays for thousands of cattle, while creating workforce disruptions at supply chain chokepoints in feedyards, dairies, processors, feed and grain companies, transportation hubs and community services. In response, ICE cited a recent statement from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, where he said that the agency has focused on targeting people in the country illegally who are accused or convicted of serious crimes.

The American Immigration Council estimates that around 20% of workers who tend to animals on U.S. farms, ranches, livestock yards and animal confinement facilities are foreign born. A separate Census-based analysis found that 56% of animal slaughtering and processing workers in the five largest meatpacking states — including Kansas and Texas — were also born outside the U.S.

No comprehensive public tally shows the exact number of ICE raids that have targeted U.S. beef or cattle facilities. However, ICE recently conducted a multi-day operation in a region of southwest Kansas known colloquially as the "golden triangle of beef," where the agency was said to have detained several beef plant workers. Local officials reported that workers were pulled over in their personal vehicles by ICE agents outside meatpacking plants, causing facilities to adjust shifts for employees who were either detained or afraid to drive into work.