Trump shifts immigration enforcement to US cities after farm sector backlash
US President Donald Trump has announced a shift in his immigration enforcement strategy, now focusing deportation efforts on major cities. The change comes after reports that the administration has paused immigration raids on farms, hotels, and restaurants due to pressure from the agricultural sector and other labor-dependent industries, as per a report by Financial Times.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol officers must expand efforts in large cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York. He said these areas house “millions upon millions of illegal aliens,” and focusing on them is essential to achieving his stated goal of launching “the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History.”
The adjustment follows growing concern from business leaders and farm advocates. Brooke Rollins, the Secretary of Agriculture, posted on X that the government has “consistently advanced a ‘Farmers First’ approach,” and emphasized the need to protect the food supply by maintaining a stable, legal workforce. “Severe disruptions to our food supply would harm Americans,” she said.
Despite the announcement, some groups remain cautious. The United Farm Workers of America responded with a statement saying, “As long as Border Patrol and ICE are allowed to sweep through farm worker communities making chaotic arrests… they are still hunting down farm workers.” The group urged the administration to “stop the sweeps on hardworking Californians.” Reports about the change in strategy were first published by The New York Times.
Trump also claimed that these major cities are “the core of the Democrat Power Center,” accusing local governments of using undocumented immigrants to “expand their voter base, cheat in elections, and grow the welfare state,” which he said takes away jobs and benefits from American citizens.
The president's immigration policies continue to face strong opposition. Over the weekend, more than five million people reportedly joined “No Kings” protests in cities and towns across all 50 states. These demonstrations, which organizers say were the largest since Trump returned to office, occurred alongside a military parade in Washington marking the 250th anniversary of the US Army and the president’s 79th birthday.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton criticized the parade online, calling it “a low-energy Dear Leader parade,” referencing the nickname for former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol officers must expand efforts in large cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York. He said these areas house “millions upon millions of illegal aliens,” and focusing on them is essential to achieving his stated goal of launching “the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History.”
The adjustment follows growing concern from business leaders and farm advocates. Brooke Rollins, the Secretary of Agriculture, posted on X that the government has “consistently advanced a ‘Farmers First’ approach,” and emphasized the need to protect the food supply by maintaining a stable, legal workforce. “Severe disruptions to our food supply would harm Americans,” she said.
Despite the announcement, some groups remain cautious. The United Farm Workers of America responded with a statement saying, “As long as Border Patrol and ICE are allowed to sweep through farm worker communities making chaotic arrests… they are still hunting down farm workers.” The group urged the administration to “stop the sweeps on hardworking Californians.” Reports about the change in strategy were first published by The New York Times.
Trump also claimed that these major cities are “the core of the Democrat Power Center,” accusing local governments of using undocumented immigrants to “expand their voter base, cheat in elections, and grow the welfare state,” which he said takes away jobs and benefits from American citizens.
The president's immigration policies continue to face strong opposition. Over the weekend, more than five million people reportedly joined “No Kings” protests in cities and towns across all 50 states. These demonstrations, which organizers say were the largest since Trump returned to office, occurred alongside a military parade in Washington marking the 250th anniversary of the US Army and the president’s 79th birthday.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton criticized the parade online, calling it “a low-energy Dear Leader parade,” referencing the nickname for former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.
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