Following a week of immigration whiplash, President Trump’s border czar Tom Homan confirmed late last week that immigration raids will continue in the agriculture and hospitality industries. The Trump administration had said it was pausing some ICE raids that would hurt those industries, but Homan’s comments reaffirm that it is reversing course. While workers at places like farms, restaurants, and hotels will be targeted, people with criminal backgrounds will be a priority for immigration enforcement officials, Homan said.
“We’re going to continue to do worksite enforcement operations, even on farms and hotels, but based on a prioritized basis. Criminals come first,” Homan told reporters. Asked what he would say to farmers concerned the raids will hurt their jobs and the U.S. economy, Homan said, “Well, first of all, there’s a right way and wrong way to hire workers. There are legal programs that bring farm workers in. Second of all, I’ve been saying for years, Congress needs to address this. But because Congress failed, it just doesn’t mean we ignore it. It’s illegal to knowingly hire an illegal alien.”
