The raids, carried out by ICE at the direction of senior White House officials, had targeted agricultural and hospitality workplaces to meet strict deportation quotas. The operations quickly sparked protests in cities like Los Angeles and alarmed farm owners, many of whom are part of Trump’s core political base. Farmers reported losing up to 60% of their workers, threatening food supply chains nationwide.
Behind the scenes, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins repeatedly warned Trump that the raids endangered food security. A decisive phone call between Rollins and the president on June 11 is said to have convinced him to reverse course. The very next day, Trump posted a softer message on Truth Social, acknowledging that farmers and hospitality workers were losing skilled, long-term employees who were “nearly impossible to replace.”
Trump framed the shift as a move to “protect our farmers” while still vowing to remove criminal immigrants. Yet analysts noted the decision also reflected political and personal interests: farmers remain a key part of Trump’s support base, and the hospitality sector intersects with his family’s business empire.
By June 12, ICE leadership formally instructed local offices to pause all worksite enforcement in agriculture, food processing, restaurants, and hotels. The decision surprised many inside the West Wing, especially hardliners like Stephen Miller, but underscored Trump’s willingness to prioritize political alliances and economic stability over aggressive deportation targets.