Trump Eases Deportation Priorities for Farm and Hotel Workers in the U.S.

• Trump eases deportation priorities.
• Immigrants may return legally.
• 40% of farm workers are undocumented.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday proposed easing deportation priorities for certain immigrants working in agriculture or the hotel industry—sectors that heavily depend on foreign labor and, according to him, must be protected.

“We have to take care of our farmers, hotels, and, you know, various sectors where people are needed… we’ll work very carefully on that,” Trump said during a cabinet meeting.

President Donald Trump suggested that undocumented individuals working on farms and in hotels would be allowed to leave the country and return as legal workers if supported by their employers.

He also spoke about relaxing deportation priorities for immigrants in these economic sectors, which he said rely significantly on foreign labor and should be safeguarded.

Trump proposes easing deportations for farm and hotel workers

“We have to take care of our farmers, hotels, and, you know, various sectors where people are needed… we’ll work very carefully on that,” Trump stated again during the cabinet meeting.

“So a farmer comes in with a letter about certain individuals, saying they’re excellent, they work hard. We’ll slow things down a bit for them, and eventually we’ll bring them back. They’ll leave. They’ll come back as legal workers.”

According to the US president, the country will allow “certain individuals to stay for a while and work,” after which they’ll leave and return legally.

“A farmer will come with a letter about certain individuals, saying they’re excellent, they work hard. We’ll slow things down a bit for them, and then we’ll bring them back. They’ll leave and come back as legal workers,” the president reiterated.

Trump’s remarks came after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reported progress in the White House’s campaign encouraging undocumented immigrants to leave the country voluntarily.

However, the secretary did not specify the number of migrants who have self-deported.

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Undocumented immigrants who leave the country on their own must report their departure through the CBP Home app, which includes a geolocation system to verify the location from which the report is made.

The president emphasized that if undocumented immigrants “leave in a good way,” he will work with them from the beginning to help them return legally, and he instructed his cabinet to act accordingly.

However, the White House has yet to clarify how foreign nationals who leave the US could return without facing penalties for having lived in the country undocumented.

This Friday, a new rule imposed by the Trump administration takes effect, requiring all undocumented immigrants over the age of 14 who have been in the country for more than 30 days to register and submit their fingerprints.

Those subject to the rule who do not comply could face penalties that could include imprisonment, according to the government.

Trump said his administration will work with people if “they leave… in a good way. We’ll work with them from the start, trying to bring them back legally. That gives them a real incentive. Otherwise, they never come back.”

Trump’s comments followed the report from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on the progress of the White House’s campaign urging undocumented immigrants to self-deport. However, no specific figures were provided on how many have done so.

Undocumented immigrants who return to their home countries voluntarily must report their departure through the CBP Home app, which features geolocation verification.

The president reiterated that if undocumented immigrants “leave in a good way,” his administration will try to help them return legally and instructed his cabinet secretaries to assist with the process.

However, the White House has not yet explained how foreign nationals who depart the US would be able to return without facing penalties for having lived in the country without authorization.

This Friday, a Trump administration rule goes into effect requiring all undocumented immigrants over the age of 14 who have been in the U.S. for more than 30 days to register and provide fingerprints. Those who fail to comply may face penalties, including possible jail time, according to the government.

According to the Department of Agriculture, approximately 40% of U.S. farm workers are undocumented. Meanwhile, data from 2023 indicates that around 1.1 million undocumented individuals were employed in the hospitality sector.

SOURCE: EFE / NBC