“Before this pandemic, they wanted to deport us. But now that there’s a pandemic, they say they need us.” In the U.S., farm workers are considered “essential” during the COVID-19 pandemic – making sure that food supplies make it from the fields to Americans’ tables every night.

But because of the nature of the job, it’s nearly impossible for many to follow social distancing guidelines or access appropriate protective gear. And with many undocumented migrants filling this role, these workers feel even more vulnerable.

CGTN’s Ediz Tiyansan spoke with some farm workers in California – to hear about the pandemic from their perspective.