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Farm Workers Are Safe From ICE Raids and Can Keep Us ‘Happy, Healthy, And Fat’

Speaking to reporters in Morristown, New Jersey, President Donald Trump made it clear that while his administration is continuing aggressive deportations of criminal illegal immigrants, he has no intention of targeting agricultural workers. According to Trump, America’s farmers are “great people,” and many of the undocumented workers they hire are “not criminals,” but hardworking individuals who “keep us happy, healthy, and fat.” 

This statement came amid growing concern about the impact of workplace raids on industries like farming, hospitality, and restaurants. Trump signaled a shift in enforcement priorities, saying, “We’re going to let the farmers take responsibility. They know the good and the bad.” It was a strategic nod to America’s agricultural backbone – and a rare exemption in a presidency defined by hardline immigration enforcement.

ICE Raids Target Cities, Not Farms

ICE Raids Target Cities, Not Farms
Image Credit: PBS NewsHour

While the Trump administration continues ICE operations in sanctuary cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, it has paused most workplace raids on farms, restaurants, and hotels. PBS NewsHour reported that the administration’s new strategy pivots away from industries vital to the economy while increasing arrests in urban areas where undocumented criminals may be hiding.

Trump emphasized that the priority is “getting the bad people out.” In his words, “We have murderers, we have drug lords, we have people that we don’t want.” He added that many were released from foreign prisons and asylum centers before entering the United States. The message was firm: criminals will be deported first, not the people “who have worked on farms for 20 years.”

Farm Workers Given Temporary Reprieve

Farm Workers Given Temporary Reprieve
Image Credit: PBS NewsHour

Jennie Murray, CEO of the National Immigration Forum, praised the administration’s decision to pause raids on farms and similar industries. Speaking with Lisa Desjardins on PBS NewsHour, Murray said the move shows the president understands the “very important role” these workers play in keeping American businesses running. “We are very glad to see that the president realizes this,” she said.

According to Murray, one in five U.S. workers is foreign-born, and many of them are employed legally under temporary statuses like parole or TPS (Temporary Protected Status). The ending of these programs, she warned, could push millions of lawful workers into undocumented status, making them deportation targets despite years of legal labor.

Reversal in Deportation Exemption Sparks Confusion

Reversal in Deportation Exemption Sparks Confusion
Image Credit: Forbes Breaking News

When pressed again about possible deportations of farm workers, Trump clarified that changes were still coming – but everyone was “right.” Speaking to reporters, he said, “We’ve got to get the bad people out of here first,” emphasizing his strategy to prioritize violent criminals over workers who contribute to the economy.

While Department of Homeland Security had recently confirmed that worksite enforcement remains a “cornerstone” of immigration efforts, Trump’s comments suggested that exceptions would be made for farms and hospitality businesses. “We have to take care of our farmers… we have to take care of people that run leisure hotels,” he said. 

A Nod to Economic Reality

A Nod to Economic Reality
Image Credit: PBS NewsHour

What stands out in Trump’s statements is the sharp contrast between rhetoric and realism. He’s not backing down from his campaign promises to deport illegal immigrants, but he’s also acknowledging that removing farm workers en masse would cripple a major part of the economy. “We can’t put the farms out of business,” he said flatly.

That’s a huge admission from a leader known for his tough talk on immigration. Whether it’s sugarcoated or not, it shows the limits of even the most aggressive policies when they run up against practical concerns like food supply chains and labor shortages.

The Toll on Business Has Already Begun

The Toll on Business Has Already Begun
Image Credit: PBS NewsHour

According to Murray, even the threat of raids has already had a “chilling effect” on businesses. She noted that industries are struggling under the weight of tariffs, the travel ban, student visa suspensions, and now, looming deportations. “It’s already starting to weaken American businesses,” she told PBS. “And it’s going to hit our global competitiveness significantly.”

She warned that removing millions of workers due to policy reversals could wreck sectors like agriculture, hospitality, and dining. “If you remove my 250,000 ag workers, my 1 million hospitality workers… we’re not going to see the strength,” she said.

Public Sentiment Leans Toward Compassionate Enforcement

Public Sentiment Leans Toward Compassionate Enforcement
Image Credit: PBS NewsHour

Despite political divides, a significant portion of the American public, including conservatives, appears to agree with Trump’s selective enforcement. “Up to 80% of Republicans we polled said they only want removals focused on violent criminals,” Murray explained.

People want border security, she said, but they also want a lawful path for those who are already here and contributing to the nation’s success. “They want to make sure there is a legal way for folks to enter the country, to contribute, give back, and stay,” she added.

Why This Story Matters

Why This Story Matters
Image Credit: PBS NewsHour

Here’s where the story gets interesting. Trump isn’t backing off from his immigration agenda – but he’s doing something unusual: compromising. Not because of politics, but because of potatoes, poultry, and produce. Farmers rely heavily on undocumented or temporary immigrant labor, and without them, shelves go bare.

And let’s be honest – Trump’s quip about farm workers keeping us “happy, healthy, and fat” might’ve sounded like a joke, but it wasn’t wrong. They really do hold up an enormous part of the U.S. food system. From field to fork, it’s immigrant labor that plants, picks, processes, and serves much of what we eat. Threatening that system, especially in an election year, is political suicide.

Trump Still Talking Tough

Trump Still Talking Tough
Image Credit: Forbes Breaking News

That said, Trump isn’t getting soft. In both interviews, he hammered the claim that the U.S. has been flooded with criminals from foreign prisons. He blamed the Biden administration for letting in “11,888 murderers,” many of whom, he said, “murdered more than one person.” Whether those numbers are inflated or not, it’s clear Trump sees this criminal wave as justification for strict removals.

He reiterated his belief that deporting dangerous individuals is not just good policy – it’s survival. “We’re getting them out,” he said. “We don’t want them.”

Lisa Desjardins Sums Up the Shift

Lisa Desjardins Sums Up the Shift
Image Credit: PBS NewsHour

In her PBS NewsHour report, Lisa Desjardins highlighted the contrast between the “pause” in worksite raids and the ramp-up of enforcement in major cities. The change, she explained, is an effort to avoid damaging the economy while still keeping campaign promises on illegal immigration.

In her interview with Murray, Desjardins explored how fragile the business environment has become. With layers of unpredictable policies, tariffs, deportations, and border crackdowns, it’s getting harder for companies to plan, let alone thrive.

Businesses Hope It’s Not Just a Pause

Businesses Hope It’s Not Just a Pause
Image Credit: PBS NewsHour

One question lingers: is this just a temporary reprieve? ICE raids are paused, not canceled. The administration has the legal authority to resume them at any time. For now, farm workers have breathing room. But if political winds shift, or if criminal deportation numbers slow down, industries might once again face the full force of federal enforcement.

If nothing else, this moment reflects a rare point where hardline ideology gave way to economic reality. As Trump put it, “We don’t want to hurt people that aren’t criminals.” In practice, that could mean thousands of immigrant families get to keep harvesting, cooking, and cleaning – instead of being hauled away.

More Than a Political Calculation

More Than a Political Calculation
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It’s not often that farmers, immigrant rights advocates, and conservative politicians all agree on something. But in this case, they seem to. Trump’s decision to shield farm worker, at least for now, is more than a political calculation. It’s an acknowledgment that these workers are essential. No matter how you feel about immigration, it’s hard to ignore the fact that without them, America’s fields go fallow and our plates go empty.

For now, the balance is holding. But the next move could tip the scale.