Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will continue to conduct inspections of ag operations but will focus on criminal activity, White House border czar Tom Homan said Thursday.
After days of confusion over whether President Donald Trump had carved out an exception for farms and hospitality operations including hotels and restaurants, Homan told reporters, “The message is clear enough that we're going to continue doing worksite enforcement operations even on farms and hotels.”
The ag industry has voiced concern about worksite raids and inspections that have ensnared immigrants working at farm operations and a meatpacking plant. Part of that concern derives from ICE arresting workers beyond those for whom they have warrants.
Asked about guidance that went to regional offices apparently telling agents to hold off at ag and hospitality sites, Homan said, “It's a matter of proper messaging.” He said the worksite enforcement would continue “but based on a prioritized basis. Criminals come first.”
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“We're going to base them on priority, for those who we have a criminal nexus of trafficking, of forced labor, of tax fraud or tax evasion,” Homan continued.
He also said that worksite enforcement operations are “an important part of the work we do. Again, where do we find most victims of trafficking? Worksite. Joe Biden stopped worksite. They said they cared about sex trafficking and forced labor trafficking, then they stopped worksite enforcement. That was a dumb move.”
“There’s a right way and a wrong way to hire workers,” he said. “There are legal programs that bring farm workers in. Second of all, I've been saying for years, Congress needs to address this, but because Congress failed, it just doesn't mean we ignore it. It's illegal to knowingly hire an illegal alien.”
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