Border czar: White House considering migrant worker exception

(NewsNation) — White House border czar Tom Homan said Wednesday that he’s awaiting word from the White House on a potential policy change that may grant an exception for migrant workers in certain U.S. industries, such as farming and hospitality, that would protect them from deportation.

Appearing on “CUOMO,” Homan said officials from the departments of Homeland Security, Agriculture and Labor are discussing the idea as the Trump administration faces pushback from business sectors over workplace raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“I don’t want to get ahead of the president on what I think’s coming — or, if something’s even coming. But I know people are talking,” Homan said.

President Trump’s second term in office has focused on immigration enforcement and the removal of migrants with criminal histories. But critics have said the crackdown has broadened to include undocumented migrants who are otherwise not committing crimes, and even the president recently addressed concerns that U.S. farms could be hurt by federal workplace raids.

“The president’s committed that there will be no amnesty,” Homan told “CUOMO,” “but there’s a lot of smart minds at the White House talking about is there something for farm workers, is there something for hospitality?”

He added: “My job is to operate within the framework provided me by the administration. So, if the president comes up with a policy, and says, ‘OK, here’s what we’re going to do with farm workers,’ then ICE will abide by that policy.”

Although Trump suggested he may show leniency toward farm workers, he said he does not support giving undocumented workers a path to U.S. citizenship.