Dwain Northey (Gen X)

Tom Holman’s statement suggesting that immigrants working in fields and packing plants could simply be replaced by Americans on Social Security and Medicare is a stunning display of cruelty and insensitivity. His remark ignores the harsh realities of the grueling labor these jobs entail—long hours, extreme heat, repetitive physical strain—and the vital role immigrant workers play in keeping the nation’s food supply moving. These positions are not “easy” jobs to be casually reassigned; they are often dangerous, underpaid, and physically punishing.

To suggest that older Americans—many of whom suffer from chronic health conditions—could or should take on this backbreaking work is not only unrealistic, but dehumanizing. It reduces both immigrant laborers and senior citizens to interchangeable parts in a system that already exploits the vulnerable. Rather than acknowledging the dignity and necessity of immigrant labor, Holman’s statement demeans it, implying it is disposable. Worse, it weaponizes the elderly by implying they owe labor in their retirement years, stripping dignity from both groups.

This type of rhetoric feeds into xenophobic narratives while obscuring the real issue: the need for fair labor policies and a compassionate, realistic approach to immigration. It’s a deeply callous position that undermines the humanity of millions.