Last week, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly joined UFCW Local 2 meatpacking members in Dodge City to discuss the recent activity of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the state.
The presence of ICE agents in southwest Kansas last month led some facilities to reduce operations, while others temporarily closed altogether. Collectively, Dodge City, Liberal, and Garden City make up the “Golden Triangle of Meatpacking,” which is responsible for about a quarter of the U.S. beef supply.
“The schools, the businesses, the arts, the very economy of southwest Kansas thrive because of the influx, the integration, and the influence of the multinational makeup of this region, said Gov. Kelly. “I know it wasn’t easy, and I know it’s not perfect.
“But all of you here, and the generations before you, are to be celebrated and appreciated for all that you have contributed to the well-being of this region and the state we all call home. Under no circumstance should you have been subjected to the wanton abuse of power you experienced two weeks ago.”
In response to the ICE actions, UFCW Local 2 and the UFCW International Union condemned the operations and highlighted their negative impact on UFCW members and the community. The Texas Cattle Feeders Association, Kansas Livestock Association, and Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association have also spoken out, saying, “These ICE operations are having a massive chilling effect on the legal, documented, skilled workers that put beef on the table and keep the cattle supply chain moving.”
In cities where ICE arrests increased fastest in 2025, employment fell to 0.4 percent below its expected trajectory, a decline seen not only among immigrants but also among native-born Americans. The data show that for every arrest, four jobs were lost.
Speaking to workers, UFCW Local 2 President Martin Rosas said: “Governor Kelly has been a friend of this area, especially the workers of the state of Kansas, throughout her tenure as governor.”
Rosas added, “I want to emphasize throughout this conversation that it’s good for us to go and show our discontent with the administration, but the best way to show our discontent with this administration is to register to vote.”