Trump Suggests Some Industries’ Concerns Could Lead to Immigration Policy ‘Changes’

The White House may adjust immigration policies in response to employer concerns in some industries, according to President Donald Trump.

“Our great Farmers and people in the Hotel and Leisure business have been stating that our very aggressive policy on immigration is taking very good, long time workers away from them, with those jobs being almost impossible to replace,” Trump wrote early Thursday on Truth Social.

“This is not good,” Trump’s post concluded. “We must protect our Farmers, but get the CRIMINALS OUT OF THE USA. Changes are coming!” 

The White House press office didn’t immediately respond to Investopedia’s questions about employers’ concerns and potential policy changes. Lobbying groups representing farmers also didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment in time for publication.

“As an industry, we are committed to strict compliance with labor laws and immigration regulations, including those focused on recruitment, background checks and employment verification,” said Ralph Posner, spokesperson for the American Hotel & Lodging Association. “Along with our members, we continue to communicate with Congress and the administration about the importance of building a strong hospitality and tourism workforce.”

Leisure and hospitality businesses, including ventures run by the Trump family, employ nearly 17 million people, according to April data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Immigrants make up roughly one-third of the hospitality industry workforce, according to the American Hotel & Lodging Association. The farm and agriculture industry also relies on foreign-born workers, often from Mexico and Central America “with many lacking authorization to work legally in the United States,” the Department of Agriculture said.

Besides impacting businesses’ labor supply, the administration’s high-profile deportation campaign is cutting into customers’ spending and corporate revenues. 

Companies have seen a pullback, in particular, from Hispanic customers, who are generally in better shape financially than other consumers, but are shopping in-stores less due, in part, to concerns about immigration enforcement.

“Families are being wise,” Eric Rodriquez, from the civil rights group UnidosUS, told Investopedia in May. “If they are going to lose a breadwinner tomorrow, they need the resources to do something about that.

This article has been updated since it was first published to incorporate more context and data, as well as the statement from the AHLA spokesperson.