President Donald Trump's recent pledge to protect immigrant farmworkers from deportation appears to have had little immediate impact on enforcement operations.
Federal immigration authorities have continued targeting undocumented agricultural workers despite the president's public statement that he would "soon" implement protections for this vital workforce, according to the Washington Examiner.
The United Farm Workers union has documented ongoing enforcement actions in California's agricultural heartland, posting evidence that Customs and Border Protection agents were still pursuing farmworkers just one day after Trump indicated he would shield them from deportation. This disconnect raises questions about coordination within the administration and the timeline for implementing the president's stated policy change.
The UFW reported Border Patrol agents were "circling like sharks" around farm workers in Ventura County, particularly in Moorpark and Oxnard areas on Friday. Video evidence shared by the union earlier in the week showed federal officers in what appeared to be CBP uniforms chasing workers through agricultural fields in various California communities.
This aggressive enforcement approach quickly generated pushback from California's political leadership. Democratic Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff issued a joint statement condemning the actions, emphasizing the critical role these workers play in feeding the nation.
California Governor Gavin Newsom also criticized the operations, sarcastically noting on social media that "chasing hard working people through ranches and farms and snatching women and children off the streets is not good policy." His comments came shortly after Trump announced plans to protect agricultural workers.
President Trump acknowledged the concerns of agricultural employers during a White House press conference Thursday, stating, "We're going to have an order on that pretty soon, I think. We can't do that to our farmers, and leisure too. Hotels. We're going to have to use a lot of common sense on that."
The situation creates a significant policy challenge for the administration, which has made aggressive immigration enforcement a cornerstone of its agenda. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller recently called for ICE to arrest 3,000 illegal immigrants daily, substantially more than the approximately 1,500 daily arrests currently being made.
When asked about continued enforcement against farmworkers, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin provided a statement that acknowledged presidential direction while emphasizing enforcement priorities: "We will follow the President's direction and continue to work to get the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens off of America's streets."
The targeting of agricultural workers highlights the complex economic realities underlying America's immigration debate. According to the Center for Migration Studies, foreign workers constitute 86% of the U.S. agricultural workforce, with nearly half – approximately 283,000 workers – being undocumented.
The UFW questioned whether Trump is "really in charge" given the continuation of raids despite his stated position. "If he's really in charge, he could prove it by ordering ICE and Border Patrol to STOP THE RAIDS," the union posted on social media Thursday evening.
Several officials familiar with the administration's immigration plans indicated they had not seen any progress on the promised policy changes, according to reporting by the Washington Post. This suggests the White House may still be formulating its approach to the issue.
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly emphasized that Trump "has always stood up for our farmers" while balancing enforcement priorities. She stated the president would address both matters but provided no specific timeline or details on implementation.
Some lawmakers are looking beyond executive action toward legislative solutions. Representative Maria Salazar (R-FL) acknowledged the economic impact of removing long-time workers, saying: "Our construction sites, our hotels, and our farms are feeling the impact. It's time for Congress to act and bring a solution."
Salazar has announced plans to co-introduce what she describes as a "revolutionary" immigration bill with Representative Veronica Escobar (D-TX) by the end of June, potentially offering a more permanent solution to the status of undocumented agricultural workers.
