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President Trump has floated ideas about helping certain industries that rely on immigrant labor, but the White House has yet to release a concrete plan about what’s in store.
July 2, 2025, 3:42 p.m. ET
For weeks now, President Trump has been trying to appease immigration hard-liners who were key to his political comeback and the farmers and others whose livelihoods rely heavily on undocumented workers.
On Tuesday, he toured an immigrant detention center in the Everglades nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz” and warned that anyone trying to escape would have to outrun deadly predators. On the same trip, he said he wanted to allow some farmworkers to stay in the country legally.
The moment crystallized the conflicting priorities Mr. Trump is navigating as it becomes clear that the scope of his deportation campaign is hurting American businesses.
“I’m on both sides of the thing,” Mr. Trump told Fox News over the weekend. “I’m the strongest immigration guy that there’s ever been, but I’m also the strongest farmer guy that there’s ever been. And that includes also hotels and, you know, places where people work.”
Mr. Trump’s attempt to carve out exceptions to his crackdown has led to confusion among immigrants and business leaders, who have yet to see a concrete plan about what is in store. The president’s remarks have also created divisions inside the White House and led to conflicting messages from his administration.
Here’s a look at what Mr. Trump has said about his intentions:
What has the president said?
During his trip to the Everglades, Mr. Trump described in vague terms a system that would allow some undocumented workers on farms or in the hospitality business to stay in the United States.
