After a week of shifting signals on immigration, President Trump’s border policy chief, Tom Homan, confirmed Thursday that workplace immigration raids will resume specifically in the agriculture and hospitality sectors.
Why it matters: The Trump administration had temporarily halted some Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations to ease pressure on industries like farming and tourism. But Homan’s statement marks a clear reversal, signaling that enforcement is moving forward with renewed focus.
Digging deeper: Homan clarified that while raids will resume at locations such as farms, hotels, and restaurants, immigration officers will prioritize individuals with criminal records.
“We are going to continue targeting illegal employment across all industries, including farms and hotels,” Homan told reporters. “But we’ll do it based on our priorities. Those with criminal histories will be the first focus.”
What he said to worried business owners: Responding to concerns that these operations might disrupt the U.S. labor force, especially in industries already facing shortages, Homan emphasized that employers must follow the law.
“There’s a legal and proper way to hire workers,” he said. “There are lawful programs in place to bring in agricultural labor. Just because Congress hasn’t solved the broader issue doesn’t mean we can turn a blind eye. It’s still illegal to knowingly hire unauthorized workers.”
The backstory: Last week, the Trump administration caught some of its own supporters off guard when it announced a pause in certain ICE operations. That decision reportedly came after internal pressure from economic advisers and Cabinet members who warned that aggressive enforcement was hurting key industries that rely on immigrant labor.
Now, with the administration walking back that pause, Homan’s comments make it clear: immigration enforcement is back in motion and it won’t spare any sector.
The shift underscores a broader tension between Trump’s hardline immigration stance and the practical economic needs of U.S. businesses. It also reflects continued frustration from within the administration over Congress’s failure to deliver long-promised immigration reforms.
Despite the controversy, the White House appears committed to pressing forward, signaling that its enforcement priorities are not just about policy but also about maintaining control over immigration messaging heading into a critical political period.