President Trump surprised the American people by announcing Thursday that he was looking at legislation to protect illegal aliens who work on farms or serve in luxury hotels. That would mean millions of illegals would be allowed to remain in the United States.
“You had cases where, not here, but just even over the years where people have worked for a farm, on a farm for 14, 15 years and they get thrown out pretty viciously and we can’t do it,” the president said during remarks in Des Moines, Iowa at the kickoff for the America 250 celebration. “We gotta work with the farmers, and people that have hotels and leisure properties too.”
“Now, serious radical right people, who I also happen to like a lot, they may not be quite as happy, but they’ll understand,” he continued. “Won’t they? Do you think so?”
The president’s decision will no doubt lead to pushback from his supporters. Recent polling conducted by The New York Times, ABC, CBS and others indicate an overwhelming majority of Americans want every illegal alien deported. And a new CNN poll shows 56 percent of Americans favor deporting all illegals.
“So, if I’m to understand this correctly, we should look the other way regarding illegal immigration as long as it’s in the construction, hotel, or restaurant industries? This is far beyond disappointing, it’s infuriating,” California Republican state Sen. Melissa Melendez wrote on X.
According to some estimates there are more than 8 million illegals in the nation’s workforce. If those numbers are accurate, that would amount to about five percent of the nation’s labor force.
Most of the illegals are believed to be working in the service industry, construction, agriculture, and the service industry.
“I’m on both sides of the thing,” Trump told Fox News over the weekend. “I’m the strongest immigration guy that there’s ever been, but I’m also the strongest farmer guy that there’s ever been. And that includes also hotels and, you know, places where people work.”
The president also addressed the issue during a visit to the newly-opened Alligator Alcatraz in Florida’s Everglades. Here’s how The New York Times reported the story:
During his trip to the Everglades, Mr. Trump described in vague terms a system that would allow some undocumented workers on farms or in the hospitality business to stay in the United States.
“We’re going to have a system of signing them up so they don’t have to go,” he said. “They can be here legally, they can pay taxes and everything.”
He added that the farmers needed the workers to operate. “Without those people, you’re not going to be able to run your farm.”
Mr. Trump said farmers would be responsible for the immigrant laborers, who would not receive citizenship.
“The farmers can be responsible for some of the people,” Mr. Trump said. “They’re not going to have citizenship, but they’ll be working. They’ll be paying taxes. We need to get our farmers the people they need.”
In the Fox News interview, Mr. Trump said his administration was “developing some kind of temporary pass where people pay taxes, where the farmer can have a little control as opposed to you walk in and take everybody away.”
Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, said Monday that his White House sources indicate they are preparing to embrace legislation that would provide mass amnesty to certain illegals. That would be a terrible mistake.
The American people overwhelmingly support the deportation of every illegal – whether they are gangbangers or housekeepers. It’s important that the rule of law be enforced.
And I take great exception to the idea that Americans who believe in secure borders are “radical right people.” Those of us who believe in the sovereignty of the United States are patriots, not fringe politicos.