CNN contributor and “The View” co-host Ana Navarro set off a firestorm Tuesday after warning that stepped-up deportation efforts under President Trump could lead to higher prices at the grocery store. Speaking on “CNN NewsNight,” Navarro argued that deporting illegal immigrants who work on farms would shrink the labor force and raise food costs for everyday Americans.
“Milk gets a lot higher,” Navarro said. “We’re going to see that groceries and vegetables are higher.” She claimed that undocumented immigrants were “an integral part of our society and our economy,” and that immigration enforcement would disrupt supply chains and drive up inflation.
But Navarro’s dire prediction appears to conflict with recent data. According to the latest Consumer Price Index report, grocery prices actually fell in May—marking the steepest monthly drop in over five years. Egg prices dropped sharply, and overall food inflation remains near its lowest point since the pandemic.
Navarro’s comments come amid a new push by the Department of Homeland Security to resume enforcement operations at farms, hotels, and other businesses employing illegal labor. The policy shift follows President Trump’s executive order redirecting ICE resources toward sanctuary cities, sparking controversy and unrest in several major metropolitan areas.
Riots erupted in Los Angeles after a June 6 ICE operation, with protestors storming facilities and clashing with law enforcement. President Trump responded by deploying 700 U.S. Marines to support National Guard troops in restoring order. The move drew both praise for restoring calm and criticism from progressives who accused Trump of “militarizing immigration enforcement.”
Meanwhile, local officials in several Democrat-run cities are pushing back against ICE. In Portland, Oregon, four officers were injured during a violent protest at an ICE building. In Milwaukee, a judge reportedly helped an illegal immigrant evade arrest. Nashville’s Democrat mayor even released the names of ICE agents involved in enforcement—a move many critics say put federal officers at risk.
Trump’s policy of targeting illegal labor in urban strongholds while signaling possible leniency for agriculture has sparked debate on both sides. Some of Trump’s supporters say a carveout for farms betrays the president’s core promise to end illegal employment across the board. But administration officials argue that the focus is on the most lawless jurisdictions and the most dangerous offenders first.
Navarro’s inflation argument is now being picked apart by critics who note that food prices are falling, not rising. Conservative commentators say her remarks reflect the broader disconnect between elite pundits and working-class realities.
“The idea that we’re one ICE raid away from $10 milk is just not borne out by the numbers,” one analyst tweeted. “This is fearmongering designed to protect the status quo—not serious economic analysis.”
Despite the pushback, Navarro insisted during the segment that undocumented workers are essential and that their removal would cause “an effect in our economy.” Her critics say that while illegal labor may lower costs in the short term, it also undermines wages, encourages exploitation, and places additional strain on public services.
For now, ICE operations continue to escalate, especially in major cities that have defied federal cooperation. The Biden-era protections for illegal workers are being dismantled rapidly, and with Trump back in office, the emphasis is once again on “law and order”—even in the face of political and media resistance.
While Navarro and others warn of economic fallout, the data tells a different story. And as enforcement picks up, voters will be watching not just the headlines, but their receipts.