President Trump suggested Friday that farmers may be allowed to continue employing undocumented workers without facing immigration raids, as long as they take “responsibility” for those workers. His remarks hinted at a possible workaround to ongoing tensions between federal enforcement and the agricultural labor force.
The administration has sent mixed messages in recent days about whether farm laborers would be targeted in the stepped-up immigration crackdowns. Meanwhile, reports from across the country suggest many farms are already struggling, with undocumented workers too afraid of arrest by ICE to show up, putting crop harvesting at risk.
Trump is caught between two powerful factions: immigration hardliners pushing for widespread deportations and business leaders who warn that losing undocumented workers would devastate the agricultural sector and threaten the stability of the nation’s food supply. Federal estimates show roughly 40% of crop workers in the U.S. are undocumented, and farming operations have long faced labor shortages. Any sudden disruption in that workforce could have major consequences.
Speaking to reporters after arriving in New Jersey, Trump said the administration is considering a plan where “good, reputable farmers” could take on formal responsibility for their undocumented workers. “We can’t put the farms out of business,” he said, “and at the same time, we don’t want to hurt people that aren’t criminals.” He added, “You’ve had people that have worked on farms for 20 years, it’s very hard to go in there and say, you know, ‘you’re coming out.’ But we’re going to let the farmers take responsibility… they know the good and the bad.”
Trump reiterated his support for farmers, calling them “great people” who “keep us happy and healthy and fat.”
His remarks came just one day after Tom Homan, the administration’s border czar, stated that immigration enforcement actions would continue in the agriculture industry an indication that internal disagreements persist.
It remains unclear how Trump’s proposed “responsibility” system would be structured or enforced. The White House declined to offer additional details.
For now, Trump’s statement may bring temporary relief to many in the agriculture business. But as the shifting signals of the past week have shown, administration policy can change quickly and without warning.