October 2026 Newsletter: Migrant Workers and Climate Justice

By Molly Mechtenberg

Those of us in Southwest Michigan are truly blessed to live in a rich and diverse ecosystem. We have lakes, forests, rivers and streams, grasslands, prairies and savannas, wetlands. and farmland that is perfect for growing fruits and vegetables. We are also part of a web of human relationships that make up this region—people from all walks of life, different faith traditions, ethnicities and backgrounds, children, elders, CEOs, farmers, and the people who work the land and pick our food, a majority of these being migrant workers.

Southwest Michigan is home to one of Michigan's largest concentrations of migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Thousands of workers come to the region each year to harvest crops such as blueberries, asparagus, cherries and vegetables, with particularly large populations in Berrien, Van Buren and Allegan counties. Many of the fruits and vegetables that we enjoy are picked by these migrant workers.

Our changing climate is putting increasing pressure on this interconnected ecosystem, both from an ecological point of view and the human impact.

Outdoor workers—and farmworkers in particular—cannot simply escape the heat, hot sun, and other weather extremes. The people who pick our fruits and vegetables depend on the land and weather for their livelihoods. They can lose work when fields are flooded, when an early frost damages a crop, or when drought limits the harvest. When extreme weather affects housing or transportation, farmworkers may also have fewer options for finding safety.

These climate-related challenges can compound other sources of fear and uncertainty. For many migrant workers, immigration enforcement and concerns about deportation have made it more difficult to seek help, access resources, and feel safe in their communities.

Climate action involves reducing carbon emissions and addressing the causes of climate change. Climate justice asks us to consider our relationship with one another: Who is most vulnerable to the impacts of a changing climate? Who has the most obstacles? How can we build resilience, together? 

Across our different faith traditions, we find a call to love our neighbors, welcome the stranger, care for the vulnerable, seek justice, and recognize the dignity of every person. That means caring for creation cannot be separated from caring for people.

So what can we do?

• We can start by paying attention. We can learn more about the migrant workers in southwest Michigan who harvest our food and listen to their voices. This article from MLive highlights some of their struggles.

• We can support local organizations such as El Concilio, Farmworker Legal Services, and the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center that provide legal aid and other resources to migrant workers. Hope for Creation recently participated in an effort by Interfaith Action of Southwest Michigan (St. Joe/Benton Harbor) to gather supplies for farmworkers. Supplies such as hats, long sleeve shirts, water bottles and sunscreen help keep workers safe in extreme heat.

• We can advocate for policies and practices that protect outdoor workers from dangerous conditions and help communities prepare for extreme weather.

• We can vote for elected official that shape public policy. Elected officials make decisions about worker protections, wages, immigration policy, housing, transportation, workplace safety, and climate resilience—all issues that affect the people who harvest our food.

• We can build relationships across the boundaries of faith, neighborhood, race, income, and immigration status so that no one faces a climate emergency alone. We can build resilience, together.

We can also begin with something as ordinary as an apple. The next time we eat one, we can remember the web of people and natural systems that made it possible for that fruit to reach our table. We can use that moment as a call to greater awareness, compassion and action.