OMAHA (DTN) -- Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity disrupted major meatpacking communities in southwest Kansas this week, creating a "massive chilling effect" on workers who process beef, delaying the processing of thousands of fed cattle and "resulting in millions of dollars in lost revenue" for cattle producers, according to livestock groups.

The ICE enforcement action coincided with a nearly 16% drop in fed-cattle slaughter on Thursday, and a 9% decline on Wednesday, according to USDA's daily slaughter reports this week.

According to reports from Kansas media, ICE began an enforcement action in Dodge City, Garden City/Holcomb and Liberal, Kansas, an area known as the "Golden Triangle" of beef meatpacking.

Dodge City has plants operated by Cargill and National Beef, while Garden City/Holcomb has a Tyson Foods plant and Liberal has another National Beef plant. Collectively, the four operations have slaughter capacity of around 24,000 head a day, or more than 20% of the nation's daily fed-cattle slaughter.

The ICE action comes as the Trump administration continues its crackdown on illegal immigration while at the same time searching for ways to lower consumer beef prices. The administration has taken multiple actions to try to increase beef supplies, including temporarily removing tariffs on 300,000 metric tons of imported beef trim.

USDA's daily slaughter reports showed 8,000 fewer head processed on Sept. 23 and 17,000 fewer head processed on Sept. 24 than a week earlier. USDA also revised its daily slaughter numbers for Tuesday, Sept. 22, down 5,000 head to 100,000 head from its initial estimate of 105,000, Reuters reported. On Monday, Sept. 21, packers processed 2,000 more head than a week earlier.

Cattlemen's groups from Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas also weighed in. The Kansas Livestock Association, Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association and Texas Cattle Feeders Association issued a joint statement noting the groups "are closely monitoring" ICE activities that are now suddenly affecting their agricultural communities and cattle markets.

"Our organizations respect the responsibility of federal agencies to enforce the law," the cattlemen's groups stated. "At the same time, 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. Sudden workforce disruptions can create immediate animal-welfare, operational, and economic consequences that extend well beyond an individual business. 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. Additionally, these types of disruptions will lead to higher beef prices for consumers. Reported impacts to our organizations throughout the past few days have been: - Thousands of fed cattle slated for shipping to processors now delayed, resulting in millions of dollars in lost revenue and additional costs."

The cattlemen's groups said thousands of fed cattle scheduled to be shipped to processors have been delayed, "resulting in millions of dollars in lost revenue and additional costs." They also reported workforce disruptions at feedyards, dairies, processors, feed and grain companies, transportation hubs and community services.

"These disruptions come at a time of enhanced focus and pressure on the cattle and beef supply chain," the groups stated. "They are a costly and unnecessary impact to cattle producers already suffering from unwelcome political interference to both the markets as well as the physical supply chain."

The groups added that the effects on cattle producers can continue for days or weeks after enforcement operations end and called on federal officials to conduct enforcement "in a lawful, orderly, and transparent manner," respect due process and communicate with employers and communities.

Kansas Public Radio reported ICE officials did not comment on whether meatpacking plants were specifically targeted in the enforcement action. The agency stated, "ICE officers are out every day enforcing federal immigration law passed by Congress."

Kansas media reported ICE agents stopping people in and around the packing plants, while local officials said they were caught by surprise over the federal presence. Officials in Dodge City, Garden City and Liberal issued a joint statement on Wednesday.

"The local governing bodies and law enforcement agencies of Dodge City, Garden City, and Liberal were not notified in advance of the increased federal immigration enforcement activity taking place in our communities and became aware of the activity as the presence of federal agents became apparent to the public. Local officials do not have operational information regarding these federal enforcement activities and do not have authority or control over their operations. Officials from all three communities have been in contact with members of our legislative delegation to share concerns, seek additional information regarding the current situation, and request assistance in keeping our communities informed."

Kansas GOP Sens. Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall, both of whom voted last year to substantially increase ICE funding and authority, called for federal immigration officials to coordinate with local law enforcement.

Moran said he spoke with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin about the enforcement action.

"I am hearing from Kansans about the increased federal law enforcement presence in southwest Kansas as ICE agents carry out warrants in the area," Moran said. "I visited with Secretary Mullin, stressing the importance of DHS working with our local law enforcement to safely execute these warrants. Secretary Mullin assured me these warrants are only for the purpose of arresting individuals who have been charged with criminal activities. I will remain engaged with federal and local authorities and community leaders."

Marshall, who is up for reelection in November, called on ICE to ensure it is working with local law enforcement.

"When ICE operates in Kansas, it needs to coordinate with our local law enforcement. Our sheriffs and police know these communities better than anyone, and working together keeps officers and residents safe," Marshall said. "I'm closely following what's happening in SW Kansas and have been in direct contact with Secretary Mullin and local law enforcement as ICE executes warrants in order to keep Kansans safe."Chris Clayton can be reached at Chris.Clayton@dtn.com

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