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Hey there! It's 2025, and the immigration drama isn't over yet. Here's the scoop on the to-and-fro between the government and businesses relying on foreign workers.
Last week, President Trump temporarily paused immigration raids that were sending shivers down the spines of farmers, ranchers, and the hospitality industry. But, as with all good things, this respite didn't last long. Direction from the Department of Homeland Security's Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin rang loud and clear: "There will be no safe spaces for industries harboring violent criminals or intentionally hindering immigration enforcement."
Rebecca Shi, CEO of the American Business Immigration Coalition, which represents 1,700 businesses, wasn't impressed by the flip-flop. "There's fear and worry once more," she said, adding that her members are already struggling to manage their anxious employees. "That's not a way to run a business when your employees are at such high levels of stress and trauma."
Trump campaigned on a platform of deporting millions of undocumented immigrants, and his administration has been cracking down hard on illegally-present workers. ICE raids have left farmers short-staffed, with cows left unattended due to the absence of half the workforce. Restaurants have also felt the heat, as fearful workers call out of work, leaving chef Claudio Gonzalez scrambling to make do with skeleton crews.
But it's not just ICE raids causing the distress. Rumors of impending raids are keeping foreign-born workers away from jobs in cherry orchards in Washington state, despite there being no actual signs of enforcement.
Businesses, immigration reform groups, and lawmakers have been urging the president to reconsider the deportation policies. Last week, Trump acknowledged on his Truth Social platform that aggressive immigration policies are taking away valuable workers from the hotel and leisure sector.
As low unemployment rates make it tough for businesses to find workers, the immigration drama couldn't come at a worse time. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, foreign-born workers accounted for nearly 24% of jobs in food preparation and service and 38% of jobs in farming, fishing, and forestry in 2023. Additionally, a 2022 influx of immigrants helped the U.S. to weather an outbreak of inflation without falling into a recession.
The fresh round of uncertainty surrounding immigration policy is putting a dent in businesses' plans and making it hard to operate a forward-looking operation. With immigration and economic policies at odds, it's a stressful time for all involved. Stay tuned for updates!
Sources:
- Gallup Poll
- White House proclamation
- The uncertainty surrounding immigration policy is causing concern within the business industry, as it disrupts long-term planning and hampers the ability to run a forward-looking operation.
- In the field of agriculture, such as ranching and farming, businesses are beset by labor shortages due to immigration raids, leaving crucial tasks unattended and causing distress.
- The hospitality sector, comprising restaurants and hotels, is also feeling the heat, with fearful workers calling out of work and skeleton crews struggling to cope, all of which exacerbates the toll on business operations.
- To ensure a stable workforce, businesses have taken interest in policy reform, collaborating with lawmakers, immigration reform groups, and pushing for a reconsideration of the deportation policies that affect them.
- Aside from the economic implications, the intricate nexus of immigration and public safety remains a contentious issue in politics, with the government's stance on matters of law making or breaking the security and prosperity of industries like food services and farming.
