Trump Administration Pauses Raids On Farms, Hotels Amid Nationwide Protests

President Donald Trump has directed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to largely halt raids and arrests at farms, restaurants, and hotels, marking a shift in his administration's mass deportation policy. This change follows widespread protests triggered by recent immigration raids in Los Angeles and concerns from industries relying heavily on migrant labor, such as agriculture and hospitality. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that enforcement will now focus on detaining undocumented immigrants with criminal backgrounds, while those without criminal records will generally not be arrested in these sectors. The directive was formalized in an internal ICE email from senior official Tatum King, instructing regional leaders to suspend worksite enforcement operations in agriculture, including meatpacking plants, restaurants, and hotels, but allowing investigations related to human trafficking, money laundering, and drug smuggling to continue. Trump acknowledged that the crackdown was harming farmers and hoteliers who depend on immigrant workers, a key constituency he does not want to alienate. The administration emphasized its commitment to targeting the "worst of the worst" criminal illegal aliens while easing pressure on noncriminal undocumented workers in vital industries.