President Trump Floats Slowing Deportation of Migrant Farm and Hotel Workers and Finding Paths to Legal Work

Authored and originally published by the American Business Immigration Coaltion (ABIC)

During a recent cabinet meeting, President Trump suggested that undocumented people working on farms and in hotels would be allowed to leave the country and return as legal workers if their employers vouched for them.

Coverage of the President’s comments from Newsweek, NBC and Newsmax credited the ABIC’s “Secure America’s Workforce” D.C. Fly-In for rallying attention on Capitol Hill for this issue just two weeks ago. President Trump’s comments also dovetail with ABIC’s recent survey results showing broad support for a framework that combines both securing our border and securing our existing workforce.

He gave an example of a farmer providing “a letter concerning certain people, saying they’re great, they’re working hard. We’re going to slow it down a little bit for them, and then we’re going to ultimately bring them back. They’ll go out. They’re going to come back as legal workers.”

ABIC’s RESPONSE: President Trump’s comments come just weeks after ABIC's D.C. Fly-In brought the voices of 250 business leaders to Capitol Hill to attend more than 120 meetings with Republicans and Democrats and the Trump administration. Employers shared their concerns about workforce stability and the need for urgent immigration reform.

“On the heels of these meetings, we appreciate the administration’s acknowledgment of the vital role immigrant workers play in sustaining key industries like agriculture and hospitality. These workers are the backbone of our economy, ensuring our farms thrive and our businesses operate smoothly,” Rebecca Shi, ABIC CEO, said in a statement.

“SECURE AMERICA’S WORKFORCE” FLY-IN FEATURED IN COVERAGE in Newsweek, NBC News and Newsmax reporting of yesterday’s Presidential comments. ABIC member Artemio Muniz was quoted by NBC as part of ABIC's Fly-In coalition:

“What we are seeing is President Trump beginning the negotiations of what a Trump-based immigration plan would look like," said Artemio Muniz, ABIC Member, Employer and Chairman at Latino National Republican Coalition, State of Texas

COMITÉ DE 100 Co-Chairs Sam Sanchez and Massey Villarreal weighed in with their appreciation for the opening of dialogue, and the desire to dig in and work with lawmakers and the Administration.

“These hard working individuals are the backbone of our industries. They have been working for decades and paying taxes. We’re ready to work with President Trump and Congress to bring them out of the shadows and unleash their economic potential," they said.