NEW YORK – Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he is evaluating a proposal to create a temporary pass for immigrants working in the agricultural sector, as a way to temporarily regularize their status and guarantee the continuity of work on farms.
During an interview with the program Sunday Morning Futures of the Fox News network, Trump expressed his interest in a measure that allows these workers to continue operating legally, pay taxes, and have partial protection against immigration raids. “We are working on something similar to a temporary pass, where workers can pay taxes and the farmer has some control over who they hire”, he stated.
The former president acknowledged that the massive deportation actions have severely affected agricultural producers. "The authorities come in and take everyone, even people who have been working there for 15 or 20 years. That ends up destroying the farmer," he commented, while indicating that the producers should have a voice in the permanence of their employees. "No farmer is going to hire a killer," he added.
Tensions and contradictions in migration policy
The proposal comes after weeks of contradictory messages from government sectors and federal agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has alternated between temporary suspensions and resumptions of raids in agricultural, hotel, and gastronomic industries.
Trump had already warned on his social network Truth Social on June 12 that farmers and entrepreneurs are losing experienced employees "almost impossible to replace", so he assured that it was urgent to "protect our farmers".
The DHS maintains a firm stance
Consulted by national media, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not confirm whether changes are coming in labor migration policies, but reiterated its commitment to law enforcement. "There will be no safe zones for industries that harbor criminals or seek to evade ICE controls," said a spokesperson in a note sent to NBC News.
DHS emphasized that workplace operations will remain a priority, in order to dismantle illegal employment networks, protect American workers, and prevent labor exploitation.
Still without details or dates
As of yet, the proposal for a temporary pass for agricultural immigrants has not been formally presented, and it is unknown whether it will be an executive order, a regulatory reform, or a legislative initiative. Its possible conditions or scope have not been disclosed either.
The idea marks a new nuance in the migratory agenda of the former president, who has been widely criticized for his harshness in the application of immigration law during his term, but now recognizes the need to protect the agricultural sector in the face of labor shortages. 
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