Trump Proposes Letting Undocumented Migrants Stay with Farmers’ Endorsement

U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that undocumented immigrants working in the agricultural sector may be allowed to remain in the United States temporarily provided they receive strong endorsements from their employers. The proposal was made during a cabinet meeting held on Thursday and reported by The Washington Times.

Trump explained that his administration would consider allowing certain immigrants to continue working if their contributions to farms are validated by their employers. He emphasized the importance of listening to farmers who rely heavily on migrant labor to maintain their operations.

“We’re also going to work with farmers that if they have strong recommendations for their farms for certain people, we’re going to let them stay in for a while and work with the farmers,” Trump stated. “Then they can come back and go through a process a legal process.”

This statement came shortly after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem spoke about the administration’s “self-deportation” policy, which encourages undocumented immigrants to leave the U.S. voluntarily rather than be forcibly deported.

Trump’s comments appear to be part of a broader strategy to strike a balance between immigration enforcement and labor demands in key sectors like agriculture and hospitality. These industries often depend on immigrant labor, including undocumented workers, to fill roles that are difficult to staff.

The president suggested that a more structured guest-worker program might be on the horizon, saying it was crucial to provide a legal pathway for workers who are essential to the American economy. “We have to take care of our farmers and hotels and various places where they need the people,” he said.

He further clarified that the government would be open to receiving letters from employers vouching for individual workers. “A farmer will come in with a letter concerning certain people saying they’re great, they’re working hard. We’re going to slow it down a bit for them and then we’re ultimately gonna bring them back,” Trump said.

The idea is that these workers, after voluntarily leaving the U.S., could return through a formal legal process, thereby transitioning from undocumented to legal status. “They’ll go out, they’re gonna come back as legal workers,” Trump added. “It’s very important to handle it that way.”

While critics may view the suggestion as inconsistent with Trump’s typically hardline stance on immigration, the proposal reflects ongoing challenges in balancing border security with economic realities, especially in sectors that heavily depend on immigrant labor.

The discussion is likely to draw mixed reactions from policymakers, immigrant rights advocates, and industry leaders, as the U.S. continues to grapple with reforming