The Trump administration has vigorously cracked down on undocumented immigrants. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) law enforcement officers often go directly to farmhouses and other workplaces to arrest people. These industries that rely on immigrant labor are also facing a shortage of workers, affecting business operations. The Trump administration has recently shown signs of relaxation for immigrant workers in the agricultural and hotel industries. President Trump even said that he is launching “temporary permits” and making employers bear more responsibilities.
The Hill reported that Trump was asked on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” program about his recent remarks that seemed to indicate that his government would be more relaxed when expelling people working on farms and hotels.
Trump said he “won’t back down”, but he does cherish farmers. “We go to the farm and take away those who have worked for 15 or 20 years. Although they are good, they may have come in irregularly. What we have to do is do something for the farmers and be responsible for them. Farmers know that they don’t want to hire a murderer.”
Trump said he wants to support farmers and the government will establish a program to allow immigrant workers in the industry to obtain temporary permits. “When you go to a farm and have them (immigrants) do this kind of work together for nine years, it’s hard work that a lot of people won’t do, it ultimately destroys a farmer because you take everybody away, and that’s a problem. You know, I’m on both sides of this, I’m the most pro-immigrant person ever, but I’m also the most pro-farmer person ever – and that includes hotels, you know, where a certain group of people work.”
He added that he is now working to promote some kind of temporary pass, where immigrants holding it would pay taxes, and farmers could have a little control instead of watching their workers being taken away.
Trump acknowledged earlier this month that the agricultural and hotel industries were concerned that his administration’s sweeps were cutting into key labor in these industries, which led to a temporary suspension of enforcement actions at farms, hotels and other locations; but a few days later, the Trump administration seemed to reverse its attitude, with White House border affairs director “Border Czar” Tom Homan telling reporters that it would “continue to conduct on-site enforcement actions at farms and hotels,” but it would be based on priority.
A few days later, Trump told reporters that he was still exploring ways to help farmers, saying, “We are doing something, if it’s a reputable farmer, they can be responsible for the people they employ, because we can’t let farms go bankrupt.”
