The US government has ordered immigration officials to pause raids and arrests on farms, hotels and restaurants, according to a report by the New York Times.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were sent a directive asking that they refrain from heading to such establishments, which also include meatpacking plants and aquaculture.
This decision was communicated through an official email sent last Thursday, according to information confirmed by three US officials who spoke to the Times.
In the email, senior ICE official Tatum King said ""Effective today, please hold on all work site enforcement investigations/operations on agriculture (including aquaculture and meat packing plants), restaurants, and operating hotels."
The email also went on to say investigations into these industries which involve "human trafficking, money laundering, and drug smuggling" should continue.
Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin confirmed the report, saying in a statement that "we will follow the president's direction and continue to get the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens off America's streets."
Economic and political impact of immigration raids
The pause in the raids potentially reflects the government's concerns about the negative impact these operations are having on vital economic sectors, as well as electoral support. The agricultural industry, particularly in states like California, relies almost exclusively on immigrant labour for its day-to-day operations.
The recent protests in Los Angeles, which were triggered by large-scale immigration raids in local communities, have increased pressure on the government. This situation poses a dilemma for the president, who is seeking to maintain the support of key constituencies ahead of the upcoming congressional and midterm elections in 2026.
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has implemented an unprecedentedly heavy-handed immigration policy. His cabinet officials recently held meetings with ICE leadership, setting a minimum quota of 3,000 arrests per day, a mandate that has resulted in intensified immigration raids nationwide.
Long-term outlook on immigration policy remains unchanged
The temporary suspension of the agriculture and hospitality raids likely does not represent a fundamental change in Trump's immigration policy, which remains aggressive in rhetoric.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem pledhed that federal authorities are "not going away", and that people who are in the country illegally, as well as violent protesters, will "face consequences".
The administration has relied heavily on a crime-focused message, which places significant emphasis on apprehending individuals illegally in the country who are also violent criminals.
That message has been undercut, however, by statistics revealed this week which show the number of people arrested for immigration violations that have never faced other criminal charges or convictions has shot up from 860 in January this year to 7,800 this month.
The number of individuals arrested with criminal charges and convictions also went up, but at a significantly lower rate of 91%.
