The president of the United States, Donald Trump, suggested the creation of a temporary pass for immigrants working in agriculture, but made it clear that he will not stop the immigration raids by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) nor will he soften his deportation policy.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump stated that his team is "working on it right now" to implement some type of permit that allows agricultural workers to continue working legally, while employers retain some degree of control.
The idea, as explained on the Sunday Morning Futures program, is to prevent the authorities from “coming in and taking everyone away”, referring to immigrants who have been working in the field for years.
“We are going to work to ensure that there is some kind of temporary permit where people pay taxes, where the farmer can have some control,” Trump said. “When you go to a farm and someone has worked with him for nine years... and you end up destroying a farmer because they take all the people away. It’s a problem.”
Her statements come after weeks of contradictory signals from her administration regarding the enforcement of immigration law in sensitive sectors such as agriculture, hospitality, and restaurant services, where thousands of immigrants, including Cubans, perform essential jobs.
In mid-June, ICE had briefly paused raids in these sectors. However, days later, operations resumed, highlighting that the tightening of immigration policy remains a priority.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) emphasized to CBS News that “there will be no safe spaces for industries that harbor violent offenders or attempt to undermine the efforts of ICE”, and stressed that operations will continue to focus on networks of illegal employment which, they argue, affect American workers and economic stability.
Despite Trump's apparent attempts to show sensitivity to the needs of farmers, who have raised concerns about the difficulty of replacing experienced workers, the White House reiterated that anyone in an irregular immigration situation is subject to deportation.
Trump also mentioned in April the possibility that some immigrants could leave and legally return to the country, hinting at improvements to the H-2A and H-2B temporary programs for agricultural and hospitality workers.
However, so far, no concrete details or formal proposals regarding the implementation of these changes have been presented.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Temporary Pass for Migrants in the U.S.
What does President Trump propose with the "temporary pass" for migrants?
President Trump proposes a "temporary pass" for undocumented workers in agriculture and hospitality, allowing them to work legally while their employers maintain certain oversight. This pass aims to prevent authorities from conducting mass raids that impact these key sectors of the U.S. economy.
How will ICE raids affect agricultural and hotel workers?
Despite the creation of the "temporary permit," ICE raids will continue in the agricultural and hospitality sectors, focusing on immigrants with criminal records. However, pressure from these sectors has led to the consideration of certain exceptions to protect essential workers without records.
Why is the work of migrants in agriculture and hospitality important in the U.S.?
Migrants, many of whom are undocumented, make up a crucial part of the workforce in agriculture and hospitality, performing essential roles that are difficult to fill with American workers. Their absence could lead to a decrease in agricultural production and have negative impacts on both the local and national economy.
What economic impact do mass deportation policies have in the U.S.?
Mass deportation policies are causing significant economic losses in industries that rely on migrant labor. A reduction in immigrant workers could decrease the Gross Domestic Product by 4.2%, especially affecting sectors such as agriculture, construction, and healthcare.
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