Trump suggests halting deportations for certain types of migrants

The president Donald Trump suggested this Thursday during a Cabinet meeting that his administration could offer immigration relief to certain undocumented workers in the agricultural and hospitality sectors, allowing them to temporarily remain in the country and later return with legal visas.

"A farmer will come with a letter regarding certain people saying they are excellent and that they are working hard. We will slow down a bit for them, and then ultimately we will bring them back. They will leave, and they are going to return as legal workers," the president stated from the Oval Office.

Trump emphasized the importance of protecting key sectors such as agriculture and tourism, acknowledging something he had previously refused to admit: the high dependence on migrant labor, Telemundo 51 reported.

"We need to take care of our farmers, the hotels, and various places where this people are usually needed," he added.

The proposal arises amid a growing rejection from the agricultural industry towards the government's plans for mass deportations, as American farmers point out that a significant portion of their workforce —almost half of the two million farm workers— lacks legal immigration status, according to official figures.

During his first term, Trump also promised to protect the agricultural sector, although his Administration carried out raids on meat processing plants.

Currently, farmers can resort to the H-2A visa program to hire foreign workers legally, but many claim that the process is expensive and limited to specific seasons.

In the same meeting, the Government confirmed that the controversial "golden card," a residency permit for those who can pay five million dollars, will begin processing before the end of the month.

This card, also known as the "Trump card," will provide rights similar to those of a green card, but will exempt its holders from paying taxes in the U.S. on income generated abroad.

On the other hand, starting April 11, a measure will come into effect requiring all undocumented immigrants over the age of 14 to register in an official system.

If they fail to do so, they will face potential criminal and civil charges. The measure has been strongly criticized by activists and lawyers, who view it as unconstitutional and have urged the community not to participate.

These actions are part of a series of policies aimed at tightening immigration control, which are part of Trump's campaign promises, including allowing ICE access to tax data shared by the IRS to facilitate deportations.

Since returning to the White House, the president has adopted a hostile, contemptuous, and threatening tone towards undocumented immigrants, frequently warning them that they will be captured and deported.

In December, the New York Migration Studies Center warned that 8.3 million migrants with irregular status work in sectors such as construction, restaurants, and agriculture; and that therefore, a mass expulsion of undocumented individuals would negatively impact the economy of the U.S.

"Without these workers, many industries in the United States would face critical shortages. For example, a deficit of 135,000 healthcare workers is projected by 2036 and 500,000 in construction by 2025," according to the study.

Trump has had to roll back some of his policies, which have led to rising prices, rejection from American businesspeople, and chaos in the economy.

The day before, a pause in the imposition of tariffs on the world was announced just as chaos threatened the economy; meanwhile, European tour operators reported a decline in tourism to the U.S. from certain groups such as the LGBTQI+ community— in 2023, Europeans spent over $155 billion on trips to the U.S.—following the new gender policies.

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