The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has backtracked on a recent order that had temporarily stopped immigration raids by federal agents at farms, hotels, and restaurants. This decision, shared internally on Monday, shows a quick change in policy after a short time when the Trump administration seemed open to reducing enforcement in industries that depend heavily on immigrant workers.
Last week, internal guidance from the Department of Homeland Security instructed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and its Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unit to mostly avoid conducting workplace immigration raids at farms, hotels, restaurants, and meatpacking plants. However, the pause did not last long. As reported by the Washington Post, by Sunday, supervisors in ICE and HSI field offices started getting signals that the exemption policy would likely be reversed.
According to Reuters, this shift happened after DHS leaders learned that the White House did not support the original guidance. On Monday morning, a call was held with representatives from 30 field offices nationwide, during which ICE and HSI officials told agency leaders that agents must restart and continue workplace immigration raids at farms, hotels, and restaurants.
ICE to raid fields again
The temporary pause came after President Donald Trump showed sympathy for concerns raised by leaders in agriculture and hospitality, who warned that strict immigration enforcement was hurting their workforce and business operations. An internal email sent on Thursday from a top DHS official clearly stated this initial order to “hold off on all worksite enforcement investigations and operations involving agriculture (including aquaculture and meatpacking plants), restaurants, and operating hotels.” Some industry representatives saw this as a sign that the administration might be willing to address their labor shortages.
Tricia McLaughlin, an assistant secretary for DHS, said, “there will be no safe spaces for industries who harbor violent criminals or purposely try to undermine ICE’s efforts. Worksite enforcement remains a cornerstone of our efforts to safeguard public safety, national security and economic stability.”
A DHS spokesperson confirmed the administration’s position, stating there would be “no safe spaces for industries that protect violent criminals or deliberately try to interfere with ICE’s work.” The spokesperson also stressed that “worksite enforcement is still a key part of our mission to protect public safety, national security, and economic stability.” There’s other areas Trump is pushing ICE, but it seems like this is a steamrolling initiative.
Published: Jun 17, 2025 10:24 am