Trump to Expand Residence Permits for Migrant Farmworkers

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - United States President Donald Trump has expressed his willingness to allow migrant workers in the agricultural sector to stay if the farmers who employ them are willing to vouch for them. He made the statement during a campaign speech at the state fair in Iowa on Thursday night, July 3, 2025.

As reported by Fox News, Trump said the plan will be carried out in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The draft legislation is currently being prepared. "They've had people working for them for years. And we're going to do something … we're going to sort of put the farmers in charge," Trump said in front of his supporters.

Trump emphasized that Migrant workers have been working hard to meet seasonal agricultural labor needs. "Some of the farmers are literally, you know, they cry when they see this happen – if a farmer is willing to vouch for these people," he said.

No Disruption to the Agricultural Sector

Trump also stressed that border security policies should not disrupt agricultural activities. "We don't want to do [border security] where we take all of the workers off the farms. We want the farms to do great," said Trump.

According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, Iowa is the second-largest agricultural exporting state in the U.S. In his speech, Trump also mentioned several cases where migrant workers who had been working for 15 years were suddenly deported harshly. He considered the policy unfair to both the farmers and their workers.

Opportunities in the Hospitality Sector

Trump mentioned that a similar policy will also be discussed for the hospitality sector, which also relies on migrant labor. This statement is consistent with his earlier remarks last week when he first hinted at immigration policies specifically for the agricultural and hospitality sectors.

However, the Department of Homeland Security emphasized that workplace law enforcement remains a priority. As quoted from NBC News, a DHS spokesperson said there will be no haven for industries that protect criminals or intentionally obstruct ICE's (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) efforts.

This operation, according to DHS, targets illegal work networks that harm American workers, disrupt the labor market, and exploit critical infrastructure. It stated that workplace law enforcement remains the foundation of our efforts to maintain public safety, national security, and economic stability.

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