Despite positive feedback from the affected industries, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reversed the guidance issued last week that paused workplace immigration raids at farms, hotels and restaurants, report a team at The Washington Post.
In a call on Monday, Immigration and Customs Enforcements (ICE) officials told agency leaders about the reversal. “Worksite enforcement remains a cornerstone of our efforts to safeguard public safety, national security and economic stability,” said Tricia McLaughlin, an assistant secretary for DHS.
The reversal will no doubt come as a disappointment to those who expressed appreciation for the administration's show of understanding of their industries. In North Texas restaurant owners expressed their relief at the now reversed pause, saying immigration raids hurt their ability to find and keep workers, reports Marissa Armas of CBS News.
On PBS NewsHour last night Jennie commented that while we need border security, a conversation on a balanced immigration approach is much needed. “[N]ow we're starting to see this focus on workplace raids. And that is going to be weakening — it's already starting to weaken — American businesses and also our global competitiveness,” Jennie said.
As Samuel Benson, Myah Ward and Jake Traylor report for Politico, the quick shift in guidance to ICE shows that the White House is being pulled in many directions when it comes to workplace immigration raids and their mass deportation plans.
Welcome to Tuesday’s edition of The Forum Daily. I’m Clara Villatoro, the Forum’s assistant VP of strategic communications, and the great Forum Daily team also includes Jillian Clark, Callie Jacobson, Broc Murphy, and Becka Wall. If you have a story to share from your own community, please send it to me at [email protected].
WORKFORCE — Rep. Carlos Giménez (R-Florida) commented during an interview on Sunday that the Trump administration’s decision to end humanitarian parole programs is creating challenges for employers in South Florida, reports Andrea Torres of WPLG. Giménez said that he and two other fellow Republican representatives have been in conversations with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem about the need for changes. Separately, concerns about the economic impact of increased deportations are growing, writes columnist Larry Edelman of The Boston Globe.
TRAVEL BAN — Less than a month after its initial implementation, the State Department is considering expanding its travel ban to 36 additional countries, 25 are African nations, reports Adam Taylor of The Washington Post. According to a memo signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the countries on the new list have been identified as failing to meet various criteria. The countries have been informed of their potential inclusion in the travel ban, and they have 60 days to align with the standards to avoid restrictions, Taylor notes.
STUDENT VISAS — In a hearing yesterday, a federal judge extended an order that bars the Trump administration from denying visas to international students planning to study at Harvard University, reports Shelley Murphy of The Boston Globe. During the last academic year, Harvard welcomed almost 6,800 international students, accounting for about 27% of its enrollment, as reported by Nate Raymond of Reuters.
IN SOLIDARITY — The first U.S. Bishop appointed by Pope Leo XIV, Rev. Michael Pham, is speaking out for migrants, calling on priests, deacons and parish leaders to go with migrants to court and stand with them in solidarity, reports Jordan King of Newsweek. Pham wrote in a letter written with other church leaders that "the presence of faith leaders makes a difference in how the migrants are treated."Similarly, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. military archdiocese, called on bishops across the country to stand with immigrants, reports Gina Christian of OSV News.
