Heat Threat: The Struggles of Pregnant Farmworkers in Rising Temperatures

Mon Dec 01 2025 00:56:28 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Amidst escalating climate change, pregnant farmworkers face severe risks due to extreme heat, compounded by fears of immigration enforcement and inadequate workplace protections.

As climate change intensifies, pregnant agricultural workers in the U.S. are increasingly threatened by extreme heat. Cases of heat-related illnesses are prevalent, especially among low-income Latino immigrants who often fear for their safety and job security while advocating for better working conditions. With limited protections and a growing trend of rising temperatures in agricultural states, urgent action is needed to safeguard the health of these vulnerable workers and their unborn children.

One hot day last summer, Clarisa Lugo was inspecting and counting corn and soybean plants in the middle of a 300-acre farm field in Illinois when she started throwing up and panting. Her heart raced, she stopped sweating and a pounding headache didn’t go away for hours.

The heat index—blending temperature and humidity—hit 105 °F (40.56 °C), and Lugo, eight months pregnant, suffered from heat illness. Many agricultural workers are already among the most vulnerable to extreme heat, and pregnant workers are increasingly at risk as temperatures rise due to climate change.

Compounding these risks is the administration's immigration crackdown, which incites fear among workers, many of whom are low-income Latino immigrants who toil under the scorching sun or in humid nurseries year-round. Research shows that they often avoid seeking medical care for maternal health due to fears of retribution.

Temperature Rise Challenges

States like California and Iowa, having seen significant temperature increases over the past century, employ hundreds of thousands of agricultural workers. In California, the average temperature rise has reached almost 3 °F (1.67 °C) since the 20th century. This increase has severe implications for pregnant workers, raising risks of miscarriages, stillbirths, and other complications.

A study indicated agricultural workers face more than 35 times the risk of heat-related deaths than other professions. The mortality rates are troubling, especially among women, who represent an increasingly significant portion of the workforce.

Despite improvements in regulations, many workers feel the existing protections are poorly enforced. Advocates are calling for more measures to ensure the safety and health of farmworkers, particularly the pregnant ones.

Urgent Need for Protection

Reports have emerged showing that the fear of immigration enforcement is discouraging many from seeking care, making it crucial to close protective gaps in law and enforcement for pregnant farmworkers. Recent legislative moves, like the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, aim to bolster protections, but skepticism remains regarding their enforcement effectiveness.

Without adequate regulations and swift responses to ever-increasing temperatures, the health of pregnant farmworkers is at severe risk. Their ability to safely work and deliver healthy babies is jeopardized as climate challenges continue to mount.

Ultimately, while climate change poses unavoidable challenges, the emphasis must be on preventing the adverse health impacts on vulnerable populations to avert tragic outcomes.