WASHINGTON ― The Trump administration will continue to conduct immigration raids at farms, hotels and restaurants, quickly reversing course after President Donald Trump last week vowed to protect migrants in these industries because of worker shortages.
The move, confirmed by the Department of Homeland Security, was first reported by the Washington Post, which detailed a rift in the White House on the exemption policy that Trump discussed in remarks and a social media post on June 12.
On one end was Brooke Rollins, Trump's Agricultural secretary, who relayed the farming industry's concerns to Trump about losing workers because of the president's mass deportations. But Stephen Miller, a deputy White House chief of staff and a top architect of Trump's immigration agenda, opposed the carveouts for certain industries, the Post reported.
More: Trump vows changes to immigration crackdown to protect migrant farmers, hotel workers
"The President has been incredibly clear. There will be no safe spaces for industries who harbor violent criminals or purposely try to undermine ICE’s efforts," Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary at DHS, said in a statement to USA TODAY.
