Trump Says Migrant Farmworkers May Get 'Temporary Pass': 'I'm the Strongest Farmer Guy That There's Ever Been'

President Donald Trump said his administration is developing a "temporary pass" system that would allow undocumented workers in the agricultural and hospitality industries to continue working legally under employer oversight, marking a potential shift in immigration enforcement policy.

"We're working on it right now," Trump said in a Fox News interview. "We're going to work it so that some kind of a temporary pass [is created] where people pay taxes, where the farmer can have a little control, as opposed to you walk in and take everybody away."

Trump framed the proposal as a response to concerns from farmers and hospitality businesses who say immigration enforcement has removed experienced laborers and harming the industry. "When we go into a farm and we take away people that have been working there for 15 and 20 years, who were good, who possibly came in incorrectly... you end up destroying a farmer," Trump said. "It's a problem."

While emphasizing his willingness to continue cracking down on unlawful immigration, Trump also sought to present himself as supportive of agriculture and hospitality employers. "I'm the strongest immigration guy that there's ever been, but I'm also the strongest farmer guy that there's ever been," he said.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), however, maintained that workforce enforcement remains a priority through a statement provided to NBC News:

"Worksite enforcement remains a cornerstone of our efforts to safeguard public safety, national security and economic stability. These operations target illegal employment networks that undermine American workers, destabilize labor markets and expose critical infrastructure to exploitation"

Trump's remarks follow a series of conflicting policy signals. After his June 12 Truth Social post promising to protect farmers and hospitality employers, Immigration and Customs Enforcement reportedly paused worksite raids. However, DHS reversed the pause days later.

In comments made June 20 while traveling to his golf club in Bedminster, Trump reiterated his intention to allow "good, reputable farmers" to take responsibility for their workers. "We can't put the farms out of business," he said. "They know the good and the bad."

According to DHS data, about 42% of U.S. farm workers between 2020 and 2022 lacked legal status.