Trump ends pause on ICE enforcement in farm, hospitality sectors

President Donald Trump’s administration just yanked back a fleeting ICE exemption that had paused immigration raids on farms, hotels, and restaurants, signaling a return to strict enforcement.

As reported by the Washington Post late Monday, this Trump policy reversal means Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is resuming worksite raids at agricultural, hospitality, and food service businesses, ending a brief respite for industries reliant on migrant labor, as Breitbart reports.

The short-lived exemption had given some business owners a temporary shield, but that shield was shattered with Monday’s announcement, catching many off guard.

ICE enforcement roars back to life

During an 11 a.m. call on Monday, ICE officials, including those from the Homeland Security Investigations division, informed leaders across 30 field offices nationwide that raids on farms, hotels, and restaurants are back in full swing.

“We continue to enforce the law … there is no safe harbor,” stated Tricia McLoughlin, a Homeland Security spokeswoman, in remarks to Fox News. Well, there’s no sugarcoating it — turns out dodging accountability isn’t a long-term business plan.

This reinstatement of Trump’s original low-immigration policy has left many employers, accustomed to relying on government-enabled migrant labor since the 1990s, reeling from the sudden shift.

Business groups scramble for relief

Industry advocates, like the American Business Immigration Coalition linked to West Coast investor group FWD.us, have been working overtime to lobby the White House and Congress to halt this enforcement wave.

Rebecca Shi, the coalition’s chief executive, noted they’re “open to a solution” after last week’s pause hinted at a possible softening of stance. Open to a solution? That’s a diplomatic way of saying they’re grasping for any lifeline while the administration holds firm.

Meanwhile, some farmers have voiced frustration over the earlier exemption, claiming it unfairly favored those who flout national laws, while others adapt by investing in tech like robotic milkers to reduce labor needs.

American workers ready to step in

On the brighter side, this policy is viewed as a boost for ordinary Americans who’ve been pushed aside by employers prioritizing lower-cost migrant workers.

An NBC report showcased how, just days after a significant raid at Glenn Valley Foods in Nebraska earlier this year, the company’s waiting area brimmed with job seekers, including many Spanish speakers, eager for openings or training.

With millions of sidelined or underpaid Americans ready to work once enforcement clears the path, it’s clear the issue isn’t a labor shortage—it’s a fairness shortage.

Economic shifts, wins for workers

Trump’s enforcement push is also steering companies toward innovation, with investments in high-tech tools driving bigger profits for investors and better pay for workers.

Consider JBS, a leading meatpacking company, which recently agreed to raises, sick leave, and pensions for 26,000 workers across the U.S., as noted by knlvradio.com on June 6. “I’ve been working at JBS for 10 years, and when I got the news about the pension, I was excited,” shared Thelma Cruz, a worker at the JBS Pork plant in Marshalltown, Iowa.

She continued, “My husband also works here, and when we retire, we will both get pension checks every month.” Before this policy change, JBS could ignore such demands, propped up by an influx of quasi-legal and unauthorized labor under the prior administration’s border policies — now that’s a reality check for corporate priorities.