(NewsNation) — As plans begin to take shape for a temporary pass for some working migrants proposed by President Donald Trump, those heading up the nation’s restaurant industry are urging the president that the essential nature of immigrant workers in the industry be taken into consideration.
Michelle Korsmo, the president and CEO of the National Restaurant Association, sent a letter to Trump this week asking that migrant restaurant workers be given the same consideration as those working in agricultural settings and other vital professions.
The restaurant industry generates more than $1.4 trillion in economic activity each year, Korsmo wrote. At the same time, there are currently more than 1 million unfilled jobs in the foodservice and hotel industries, she added.
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In addition, only 1 in 3 restaurant owners and operators report that they lack sufficient employees to meet customer demand, while 77% struggle to hire and retain staff, the letter stated. That has increased the need to recognize the value immigrant workers play, the CEO stated.
“These shortages limit operating hours, reduce services and strain restaurant operators and the communities they serve across the country,” Korsmo wrote.
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The American Immigration Council reports that more than 1.1 million undocumented immigrants work in the restaurant and hotel industries, making up about 7.6% of the workforce. That percentage ranks third behind construction (14.1%) and agriculture (15.1%).
The National Restaurant Association previously found that immigrant workers make up about 21% of all workers employed in the industry.
Korsmo wrote in her letter to Trump that, like farms and hotels, restaurants rely on “longtime, law-abiding workers in order to better serve our national food and hospitality supply chain.”
President Donald Trump speaks to the media on June 27, 2025, in the briefing room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Trump has not detailed what a temporary pause for migrants working in farming and hospitality would include. A White House spokeswoman told NewsNation this week that she had nothing to add to what Trump and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said about the proposed pass this week.
Trump told Fox News that the temporary pass is being worked on for people who pay taxes, giving farm owners more control to avoid ICE raids similar to those that took place at California farms last month.
Yet, with details limited on a plan that Trump said is currently being worked on, Korsmo — writing on behalf of the restaurant associations of several states — urged Trump to consider using his authority to prioritize the removal of migrants who pose threats to national security and public safety.
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She also urged Trump to partner with the restaurant industry to implement what she called “workforce solutions” that ensure that restaurants can hire and retain essential immigrant workers. Korsmo asked that Trump consider deferring immigration enforcement actions by providing work authorizations “on a limited basis” to those long-serving employees who pass background checks, pay taxes and meet rigorous background checks.
The restaurant association CEO is also pushing for Trump to find long-term immigration reform with Congressional support that would support migrants who contribute to the U.S. economy and who aspire to a better future through hard work.”
“This targeted relief has precedent and would provide continuity and workplace stability,” Korsmo wrote to Trump.
“We welcome the opportunity to engage with your Administration on immigration solutions that
will strengthen America’s workforce, economy, and food supply. Like you, we believe we can
secure our border, improve public safety, and protect the workforce our economy needs to thrive.”
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Recent workplace raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in cities like Los Angeles have sparked protests and created fear among the migrant community, the Los Angeles Times reported. The report said that restaurant owners and managers have been forced to quickly provide security and support measures for employees, many of whom are undocumented migrants.
“The industry is deeply confused,” Corissa Hernandez, the owner of Nativo, a Mexican bar and restaurant, told the newspaper. “We’re alarmed. We’re frustrated about the lack of transparency, especially legal clarity. We’re business owners, we’re not immigration experts.”
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White House Border Czar Tom Homan told reporters this week that he did not want to “get ahead of Trump” on the idea of a temporary pass, declining to give more specifics about ongoing discussions. Homan told NewsNation’s “CUOMO” this week that the idea “makes sense.” Homan said that Trump previously pushed for immigration reform that was “based on merit.”
“A plan is being worked and hopefully, we’ll get another plan soon,” Homan told NewsNation. “I think the president is trying to do the right thing and I support him on this.”
Elyanna Calle, the president of Restaurant Workers United, told NewsNation on Thursday that anything that provides certain assurances to immigrant workers who have become gripped by fear amid the ICE raids is a step in the right direction.
Calle, who works at a restaurant in Austin, Texas, said she has seen firsthand the anxiety that is produced among migrant workers fearful that they could be swept away by ICE agents. The daughter of immigrants, Calle said that seeing kind, hardworking people trying to support their families amid so much anxiety and widespread paranoia has become heartbreaking.
That makes the protections that the National Restaurant Association is seeking from Trump even more important, she said.
“Any movement toward more ethical behavior is a win,” Calle told NewsNation. “But I also challenge the notion that immigrants are worthy to stay here only if they are working in certain industries, or they’re worthy to stay here just because they’re providing labor. I think that’s a really horrible notion and it takes the human out of the scenario. But that being said, immigrant labor is very crucial to a lot of industries and it proves the power that they have as workers as well.”
