President Donald Trump again is saying he wants to shield farmers from the effects of his crackdown on illegal immigration, just days after his administration reinstated workplace raids on agricultural operations.
“We’re looking at doing something where, in the case of good, reputable farmers, they can take responsibility for the people that they hire and let them have responsibility, because we can’t put the farms out of business,” Trump told reporters June 20 while traveling to his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. “And at the same time we don’t want to hurt people that aren’t criminals.”
The Trump administration has been sending conflicting messages on the issue.
Under Trump, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been conducting widespread raids and arresting and detaining immigrants, many of whom do not have any criminal record.
Trump promised changes to protect migrants in the farming, hotel and leisure industries in a June 12 Truth Social post.
“Our farmers are being hurt badly,” Trump said in remarks later that day.
Following those comments, Trump’s administration directed immigration officials to largely pause raids on farms, hotels, restaurants and meatpacking plants. But the administration reversed course a few days later and resumed the raids.
Trump has made mass deportations a cornerstone of his second administration, but he has been under pressure from businesses affected by his aggressive enforcement efforts. Brooke Rollins, Trump’s Agricultural secretary, has relayed the farming industry’s concerns to Trump about losing workers because of the president’s mass deportations.
“You have people that have worked on farms for 20 years,” Trump said June 20. “It’s very hard to go in there and say ‘you’re coming out.’ But we’re going to let the farmers take responsibility, they’re great people, they’ll do it. They know the good and the bad.”
“I never want to hurt our farmers… they keep us happy and healthy and fat,” Trump added.
About 42% of farm workers in the United States between 2020 and 2022 lacked legal status, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Contributing: Joey Garrison, Reuters
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump touts effort to help farmers with migrant labor
