During his victory speech in Iowa late Thursday, President Donald Trump discussed the possibility of a half-day letter pertaining to illegal hotels, restaurants, and farm workers, but emphasized that a divided Congress would need to draft the legislation.
“We’re currently working on the law,” he told an enthusiastic audience, bouncing between business supporters and general voters, addressing topics like immigrant labor, crime implications, and how current polls relate to future elections in 2026.
However, Trump’s supporters were quick to reject this idea.
“If we pursue this, what’s the point of throwing it away on those with criminal records?” tweeted Conservative Daniel Horowitz. “This isn’t just about farms; many sectors are basically making this whole thing about individuals with criminal histories.”
“Americans didn’t vote for a pardon. We voted for serious deportations. Amnesty is not the solution at all,” tweeted the Immigration Accountability Project.
Trump’s remarks drew attention from Alipac, an anti-amnesty group that has been actively opposing amnesty efforts since 2004. They reported significant support for Trump but approximately 90% of their members opposed his recent ideas. Founder William Gheen noted:
If Trump continues to advocate for this plan to modify or bypass current immigration laws, he risks losing support within his base, potentially alienating many Americans who initially backed him while ignoring existing immigration laws.
Alipac’s concerns were heightened by Trump’s comments from July 29 on Fox, where he proclaimed, “I’m on both sides of the issue.” He mentioned:
A temporary pass for migrants where they pay taxes, allowing farmers a bit of control over the labor.
Moreover, Trump criticized President Joe Biden’s immigration policies as a “sin” with lasting repercussions.
“Every time they start discussing legal status and selective pardons… we have to react strongly,” Gheen told Breitbart News. “This could seriously derail Trump’s administration.”
His “strong opposition” tactic proved successful, with Trump winning in November by countering Biden’s migration policies. The Washington Pro Business GOP plans to allocate around $170 billion over four years to tackle illegal migration amidst a vigorous establishment backlash.
Trump declared, “We’re going to take charge of this.”
In his Iowa address, Trump often shifted between the concerns of voters and employers.
He suggested that an increase in job availability due to a reduction in immigration might lead to higher wages.
Simultaneously, he asserted that only criminal immigrants should face deportation. “We want all criminals out. Everyone agrees we’ve got to deal with murderers and drug dealers.”
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He acknowledged that his proposals for relocating workers might not go over well with his supporters, reminding the audience about the importance of the 2026 vote.
Still, he argued that employers want to retain illegal workers. “They’ve been with them for years — 14, 15 years — and they’re being discarded so harshly. We can’t do that,” he told the audience. “We need to collaborate with farmers and those in the hospitality industry.”
Trump’s comment about “hotel and leisure” reflects the pressure he feels from his real estate allies, who have seen their values decline due to his immigration policies affecting wage growth.
“We’re going to support you,” he reassured employers. “We’ll hold you accountable for the migrants. I believe this will please many.”
He warned employers too, stating, “Farmers need to step up, or they’ll face serious consequences.”
Interestingly, he asked Iowa voters if they found his plan acceptable, mentioning that “serious radical right individuals might not be too thrilled. But do you think they’ll come around?”
Throughout his address, he referenced his pro-business chief of staff, Susie Wills, but notably skipped mentioning his pro-immigration advisor, Stephen Miller.
Moreover, Trump hinted at distancing himself from the proposals, leaving the financial discussions to Congress and his agriculture secretary, Brooke Rollins.
[Secretary Rollins] brings an understanding of the issues. She mentioned, “We have challenges; farmers have lost a lot of staff, and we’re addressing it.”
Previous articles indicated that Rollins was working on regulations aimed at minimizing farmers’ litigation risks using an unlimited H-2A program for agricultural workers. Yet, getting any legislation through Congress is likely to be a tough battle, and Trump didn’t indicate he would be directly involved.
Democrats refuse to support immigrants unless they secure citizenship and voting rights in federal elections.
In addition, some GOP members are opposing laws unless they also permit a greater influx of immigrants, which might adversely affect wages for Trump’s supporters.
Many top GOP leaders are shifting towards a more populist stance focused on employer needs.
Trump generally brushed off political challenges during his lengthy victory speech, stating, “We’re going to make it happen. I believe that’s a positive.”
He has yet to address the increasing public anxiety surrounding the growing exclusion of American educated graduates from job opportunities, a result of the influx of legalized immigrants through programs like H-1B.
On the other hand, Democrats are working to halt the deportation of a significant number of undocumented residents.
