For some regions, Trump softens his firm immigration stance
Trump unexpectedly softens hard-line immigration policy
Here's the scoop: Restaurateurs, hoteliers, and farmers have vented their frustration to President Donald Trump about his strict immigration policy, and old Donald's quick on the draw. Officials from the immigration enforcement agency are now told to hold off on raids at specific locations, according to reports.
After a series of protests against his immigration policy, and some unusually self-critical words from the president, Trump may be easing his deportation policies, as reported by the media. Trump's administration has apparently shifted its focus in the crackdown on mass deportations, the "New York Times" reports, citing unnamed US officials and an internal memo. Officers from the immigration agency ICE have been instructed to largely bypass raids and arrests at agricultural businesses, hotels, and restaurants. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the new directive.
However, investigations into human trafficking, money laundering, and drug smuggling in the mentioned sectors still get the green light, according to the newspaper. But, "non-criminal accompanying persons" are to avoid arrests. The memo, said to have originated from the head of ICE, Tatum King, was sent to the regional offices.
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles—a city with many undocumented residents—protests against Trump's tough immigration policy have been running for about a week. Controversy surrounds Trump's order to deploy the National Guard and send Marine infantrymen to California to detain civilians. The Republican had promised the biggest deportation program in American history during the election campaign.
On Thursday, Trump surprising made some self-critical remarks. "Our farmers, hotel and leisure sectors, who employ thousands of long-standing, hardworking individuals, have appealed to me about my aggressive immigration policy," Trump said on the Truth Social platform. These individuals may not be citizens, but they've proven their worth, he added. "One cannot take away the farmers' workers and send them back just because they lack something they might possibly have - namely, papers," Trump told journalists.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security confirmed the "New York Times" report. "We will follow the president's instructions and continue to work towards removing the most dangerous criminals from our streets," she said.
Sources: ntv.de, lme/dpa, the New York Times
- Donald Trump
- Migration
- USA
- Protests
Enrichment Data: Recent developments in Donald Trump's deportation policy, as reported in June 2025, detail a temporary pause in immigration arrests at farms, restaurants, and hotels. The Trump administration has instructed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to halt arrests at these types of businesses after expressing concerns about the potential negative impact on the American economy and workforce, especially given that these sectors rely heavily on immigrant labor.[1]
The directive comes amid a broader push by the Trump administration to expand immigration enforcement. Earlier in June, ICE was averaging over 1,300 arrests per day—more than double the rate seen during Trump’s first 100 days in office—and detention numbers had reached a record high of over 56,000 individuals held in ICE facilities.[1] Despite this escalation, the White House recognizes that targeting these specific industries could create severe labor shortages and disrupt local economies.[1]
This pause does not represent a general policy rollback, but rather a targeted adjustment in response to economic concerns. ICE has otherwise continued with aggressive enforcement elsewhere, including targeting migrants at court hearings and check-ins, and the administration remains committed to its broader deportation goals[1].
Additionally, the Trump administration is simultaneously pursuing restrictive new entry policies and considering further legal maneuvers to streamline deportations, such as expanding detention capacity and contemplating the suspension of habeas corpus for certain detainees[2][3]. These efforts are intended to boost the speed and scale of removals, although the recent pause for restaurants, hotels, and farms represents a notable exception to the administration’s otherwise hardline approach.[1]
- The recent directive from Donald Trump's administration instructs Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to halt arrests at farms, restaurants, and hotels, as a targeted response to economic concerns about potential labor shortages and disruptions in these sectors.
- Despite the temporary pause at certain industries, the Trump administration continues its aggressive enforcement elsewhere, including targeting migrants at court hearings and check-ins, and remains committed to its broader deportation goals, as well as pursuing restrictive new entry policies and considering legal maneuvers to streamline deportations.
