(NewsNation) — The Trump administration’s “no amnesty” policy for undocumented farm workers is being met with pushback from some GOP members.
On Wednesday, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the administration’s targeting of farms in recent immigration raids.
“There will never be amnesty under President Trump,” Noem said. “The president is very clear that he doesn’t believe that the law should apply to some people and not to others, and that there should be consequences for some people and not for others.”
Some GOP lawmakers are concerned that this stance will only further hinder struggling American farmers, who are having to navigate mounting labor shortages and high interest rates. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, an estimated 40% of the nation’s crop workers are undocumented.
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Speaking to NewsNation’s Joe Khalil Thursday, Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.) said he’d like to see some sort of visa program created for undocumented farm workers.
“If we can provide a visa program that allows people to work in our agricultural industry using a legal process, that is so much better than encouraging illegal immigration,” Moolenaar said. “And that way, agriculture workers can support their families, and we can harvest the crops in the field.”
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Following Noem’s commentary, White House border czar Tom Homan told “CUOMO” that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would “abide” by any policy changes regarding how undocumented farm workers are handled.
“I know they are talking now, and I expect something will come out soon. So, we’ll see where it goes,” Homan said. “I don’t want to get ahead of the president on what I think is coming or if something is even coming, but I know people are talking.”
