President Donald Trump has announced plans to modify his administration’s strict immigration policies to safeguard migrant workers in industries like farming and hospitality from deportation. In a post on Truth Social, Trump acknowledged concerns raised by farmers and leisure business owners about losing valuable workers due to aggressive immigration enforcement. He emphasized the need to balance protecting farmers while removing criminal elements allowed into the country under the Biden administration’s policies.

Trump hinted at forthcoming changes through an executive order but did not provide specifics on how he would address labor shortages resulting from deportations. Critics of his mass-deportation agenda have highlighted the essential role migrant workers play in the agricultural workforce, with around 42% lacking legal status between 2020 and 2022 according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The White House has defended deportations of non-violent undocumented migrants, citing their unlawful presence as grounds for removal. ICE has significantly increased its daily arrest targets to 3,000 under pressure from the White House, leading to chaotic scenes like the recent raid on a San Diego restaurant. Despite the administration’s deportation of around 200,000 individuals over four months, the numbers lag behind those under the previous administration, attributed to fewer migrants attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border.

Democrats have criticized Trump’s approach, with Rep. Pramila Jayapal questioning the effectiveness of his solution and highlighting the importance of immigrants to the country’s economy. These developments signal a shift in Trump’s immigration stance as he navigates the complex interplay between enforcement, labor needs, and economic considerations.