Trump Proposes Temporary Work Permits for Undocumented Farm and Hospitality Workers

President Donald Trump announced plans to introduce a new “temporary pass” program aimed at allowing undocumented immigrants working in the agriculture and hospitality sectors to remain on the job—marking a significant, if limited, shift in his hardline immigration stance.

“I’m not backing down from my immigration policies,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News. “But I also value American farmers.”

Trump acknowledged that immigration raids on farms—often detaining workers who have been in the U.S. for 15 to 20 years—can be deeply disruptive to the agricultural industry. He said many of these workers are reliable and have been “doing the job,” despite their legal status.

“We’re going to find a way for farmers to retain some control over the situation,” he said. “Obviously, no one wants to hire criminals or murderers—but these aren’t those people.”

🧾 What Is the "Temporary Pass"?

According to Trump, the new temporary work permit would give undocumented immigrants in farming and hospitality a way to legally work and pay taxes, while protecting their employers from unexpected labor shortages due to federal raids.

“When you arrest someone who’s worked hard for nine years, you destroy the farmer’s livelihood. That’s not right,” he added.
“I’m the toughest president on immigration, but I’m also the strongest ally of our farmers. This is about balance.”

📉 A History of Mixed Messaging

Trump’s recent remarks follow months of conflicting signals from his administration.

On June 12, he posted on Truth Social acknowledging that farmers and hospitality business owners had complained about losing experienced, irreplaceable workers due to ICE raids. He blamed the issue on past border policies and promised to "protect American farmers."

Shortly afterward, U.S. media outlets reported that ICE had quietly instructed field offices to pause enforcement actions targeting undocumented workers in farms, hotels, and restaurants.

But just three days later, on June 15, Trump reversed course, calling for the “largest mass deportation effort in American history.” He urged immigration authorities to expand operations, particularly in major U.S. cities.

Internal memos from the Department of Homeland Security confirmed the White House did not support halting immigration raids in key labor-heavy sectors.

⚖ Behind the Scenes: Pressure Mounts on ICE

Senior White House advisor Stephen Miller had previously stated that ICE should conduct 3,000 arrests per day—a target that pushed agents to ramp up enforcement at job sites, including large agribusinesses.

According to former border policy chief Tom Homan, ICE is now making around 2,000 arrests per day, though officials admitted that exempting large employers would dramatically shrink their arrest pool.

The debate highlights the tightrope Trump is walking: appeasing his conservative base with tough immigration rhetoric, while avoiding blowback from major sectors of the U.S. economy that rely on undocumented labor.

🔍 Why This Matters

Agriculture and hospitality are two of the U.S. industries most dependent on immigrant labor, much of it undocumented. Farmers, in particular, have warned for years that large-scale deportations would cripple their operations and drive up food prices.

Trump’s proposed temporary permit system could offer a middle path—allowing employers to retain trusted workers while maintaining a hardline stance on broader immigration enforcement.

📢 What Comes Next?

Details about how the “temporary pass” program would work—who qualifies, how it’s administered, and how long it lasts—have not been released.

But with rising pressure from both political allies and key economic sectors, Trump appears eager to position himself as both the enforcer and the pragmatist on immigration ahead of the election.

“I’m not going soft,” he told Fox. “I’m just being smart.”

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