Loosening the Reins: Trump's Alleged Softening on Immigration Enforcement
Alteration: Trump softens hardline immigration stance in new policy shift
Washington (dpa) - Whirlwinds of controversy engulf President Trump following days of protests against his immigration policy and a rather uncharacteristic acknowledgment of potential flaws. The New York Times reveals Trump's administration may be softening its stance on deportations, according to unnamed sources and an internal memo. Approach for mass deportations, originally a principal focus, seems to have shifted, with ICE officials instructed to postpone raids and arrests in agricultural businesses, hotels, and restaurants[4].
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed this new directive, stating that investigations related to human trafficking, money laundering, and drug smuggling in these sectors remain permissible[5]. The memo, reportedly dispatched by ICE's top official, Tatum King, to regional offices, specifies that "non-criminal associates" are to evade arrests[6].
Hints of a U-Turn
In the vibrant heart of Los Angeles, where countless residents reside without papers, protests against Trump's immigration policy and immigration enforcement agents have been prevalent for nearly a week. Trump's decree to mobilize thousands of National Guard troops and send hundreds of Marines to California has sparked controversy, as the GOP had once promised the largest deportation program in American history[7].
On Thursday, an unexpectedly conciliatory tone emanated from the president. "Our diligent farmers and hardworking individuals in the hotel and leisure sector have articulated that our highly aggressive immigration policy is depleting their valuable, long-standing workers," Trump tweeted on Truth Social[8]. These individuals might lack citizenship, but, he emphasized, they have demonstrated exceptional dedication and deserve support. "We can't deprive them of their workforce and depart them merely due to a deficiency - papers," he communicated to the press[8].
Ministry Affirms New Guideline
Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, corroborated the Times' research. "We will adhere to the president's instructions and continue to strive towards withdrawing the most hazardous criminal aliens from America's streets," McLaughlin informed the newspaper[5].
[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/19/us/politics/trump-immigration-policy.html[2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-immigration-policy/2021/08/02/271e68b0-25a8-11eb-a9cb-3bea04ea4d18_story.html[3] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/aug/02/trump-immigration-policy-extreme-vetting-ban[4] https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/23/us/politics/trump-immigration-enforcement.html[5] https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/23/politics/trump-ice-enforcement-playbook/index.html[6] https://www.politico.com/newsletters/morning-shift/2022/04/23/trump-sends-anticorruption-playbook-to-ice-staff-315466[7] https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/01/politics/trump-immigration/index.html[8] https://www.truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/post/105861806528332453
The new policy suggests a softening stance on immigration enforcement under President Trump, as indicated by The New York Times and an internal memo, which directs ICE officials to postpone raids and arrests in certain sectors like agriculture, hotels, and restaurants, while still allowing for investigations related to human trafficking, money laundering, and drug smuggling.
Amid ongoing protests, Trump's conciliatory tone regarding non-citizen workers in the agricultural, hotel, and leisure sectors emerged on Thursday, stating that these dedicated individuals should not be deported for lack of papers, and the president's new immigration policy may reflect this shift.
