President Donald Trump indicated that his administration is developing a “temporary pass” for immigrants working in certain essential sectors of the economy, particularly agriculture and hospitality. This initiative would mark a significant shift in the government’s immigration policy, especially regarding long-employed undocumented workers.
During an interview aired Sunday, June 29, on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures, Mr. Trump specified that this measure would aim to provide stability to employers while ensuring that affected workers pay their taxes.
Donald Trump acknowledges that immigrants in the agricultural, hospitality, and construction sectors are “good workers.”
Regretting the effects of his immigration policy, the 47th president of the United States disapproved of interventions conducted on farms leading to the expulsion of workers established for years. He mentioned situations of workers present for 15 or 20 years, sometimes entering illegally but described as “good workers.”
Mr. Trump announces that discussions continue at the White House to establish a program for immigrants in the mentioned sectors.
“We’re working on it right now. It would be a temporary pass system where people would pay taxes, and where the farmer would have some control, rather than having authorities come in and take everybody away,” the president said during the interview recorded two days earlier.
“What we’re going to do is let the farmer have a say. The farmer knows. He’s not going to hire a murderer,” he added. “When you go to a farm where somebody’s been working for nine years doing a tough job that not many people want to do, and you end up ruining the farmer by taking away all his labor, that’s a real problem.”
In a message posted on Truth Social on June 12, Mr. Trump had already mentioned that his immigration policy might affect agricultural operators and tourism sector employers by depriving them of experienced workers who are “very difficult to replace.” He had then assured that “changes were coming.”
According to NBC News, this announcement comes as the White House frequently modifies its position regarding immigration management in certain sectors. In June, the administration had temporarily suspended workplace arrests in agriculture, restaurant, and hospitality sectors, before reversing this decision a few days later.
Despite this apparent flexibility, the official position remains strict. A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson, quoted by NBC News, reaffirmed the administration’s stance:”The president has been perfectly clear. There will be no sanctuary for sectors harboring violent criminals or deliberately seeking to circumvent ICE’s efforts.”
The DHS emphasized that workplace surveillance remains a central element of the administration’s immigration strategy to ensure public safety, economic stability, and labor market protection.
“These operations target illegal employment networks that harm American workers, weaken the job market, and expose critical infrastructure to forms of exploitation.”
According to NBC News, Donald Trump had already mentioned in April the possibility of allowing certain undocumented immigrant workers to temporarily leave the United States and return legally, particularly through H-2A and H-2B visa programs, which allow seasonal hiring of foreign workers in agriculture, tourism, and restaurant sectors.
When questioned by NBC News about the details of the presidential project, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson redirected journalists to the president’s public statements without providing additional information.
Currently, no specific timeline or legislative proposal has been communicated regarding this potential temporary pass. Nevertheless, the president’s statement demonstrates a willingness to appease economic sectors experiencing recruitment difficulties, particularly in rural areas.
Despite this position, the executive maintains its stance: any person in irregular situation on the territory remains subject to deportation. “The president remains determined to enforce federal immigration law,” declared another spokesperson after workplace arrests resumed in June.
While the debate continues, immigrant workers and their employers are cautiously waiting to see if this announcement will materialize into an actual relaxation of the deportation policy or if it will remain merely a statement of intent.
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