Trump suggests legal pathway for undocumented farmworkers amid deportation push

President Donald Trump has suggested a new plan that could allow undocumented agricultural workers to gain legal status, if they voluntarily leave the country and re-enter through a formal process.

Trump’s comments during an April 10 Cabinet meeting reflect the administration’s recognition of the critical role undocumented labor plays in American agriculture, even as it maintains a hardline stance on immigration enforcement.

Trump suggested that farmers could help retain key workers by submitting letters of recommendation to delay deportations and support legal re-entry.

“A farmer will come in with a letter concerning certain people saying, they’re great, they’re working hard, we’re going to slow it down a little bit for them and then we’re going to ultimately bring them back. They’ll go out, they’re going to come back as legal workers,” Trump said during the Cabinet meeting.

According to the Department of Agriculture, around 40% of crop workers — roughly 500,000 individuals – are undocumented. Farm groups have warned that large-scale deportations could severely disrupt the food supply chain.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said during the meeting that undocumented individuals must register with U.S. Customs and Border Protection or face potential charges. The department is seeking funding to support voluntary departures.

Despite the suggested plan’s vague timeline, it marks the administration’s most detailed acknowledgment yet of the economic impact of undocumented workers. The Joint Economic Committee reports immigrant labor contributed nearly $50 billion in personal income and consumer spending in 2024 alone. The White House and USDA have not released further details on implementation or H-2A visa expansions.