Trump says immigration crackdown hurting US workforce, signals 'changes'

New York Post

a day ago

President Donald Trump admitted Thursday that his own immigration crackdown is gutting key American industries — and pledged that 'changes are coming' to the White House's policies.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump acknowledged that his deportation campaign is hurting key sectors of the American economy, including farming and hospitality.
'Our great Farmers and people in the Hotel and Leisure business have been stating that our very aggressive policy on immigration is taking very good, long time workers away from them, with those jobs being almost impossible to replace,' Trump wrote.
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6 President Trump acknowledged that his immigration policies have hurt US businesses.
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He added that many migrants who crossed into the US under his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, are now seeking those same jobs.
'This is not good. We must protect our Farmers, but get the CRIMINALS OUT OF THE USA. Changes are coming,' he said.
The public comment comes as Trump's administration escalates what he's called the largest deportation effort in US history — a campaign that has left employers reeling and immigrant communities on edge.
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This week, more than 70 individuals were arrested during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid at a meat processing plant in Omaha, Neb.
Separately, ICE agents were seen detaining workers in a California blueberry field, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Those arrests are part of a sweeping national goal to detain 3,000 people per day, federal officials have said.
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6 Homeland Security police prepare to transport immigrants who were taken into custody at the offices of a Homeland Security contractor on June 4 in Chicago.
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The Department of Agriculture estimates that nearly half of the 850,000 crop workers in the United States are undocumented — meaning Trump's enforcement push could gut the backbone of the country's food supply chain.
Farmers in red and blue states alike say they're already struggling to hire reliable replacements, especially for grueling seasonal labor that few native-born workers are willing to take.
Yet the crackdown is not limited to rural fields or meatpacking plants.
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Raids have reportedly expanded to construction sites, restaurants and even day laborer gathering spots outside Home Depot stores.
The intensified enforcement has spurred protests nationwide, with Los Angeles emerging as a flashpoint for unrest.
Trump has responded by deploying National Guard units and Marines to back up federal agents and secure ICE facilities. The move, aimed at deterring demonstrators and protecting federal property, has only inflamed tensions further.
6 Farm workers labor in the fields south of Bakersfield, Calif. Farmers have reported an uptick in immigration enforcement actions in recent weeks.
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom was among the first to slam the escalation.
The Democrat accused Trump of 'weaponizing immigration enforcement' and said the raids are sowing fear in communities far beyond undocumented populations.
While the president has long made immigration a cornerstone of his political agenda, his latest remarks suggest he may be recalibrating in response to economic blowback.
Many employers say they're caught in a bind — unable to hire legally yet unable to keep their undocumented workforce without risking federal raids.
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Industry leaders have urged the administration to consider temporary worker permits or exemptions for long-term employees who have no criminal records.
Whether Trump follows through on his suggestion that 'changes are coming' remains to be seen.
But for now, his hardline approach is colliding with economic reality — and businesses that once looked to him for relief are now sounding the alarm.
6 Activists and family members confront Homeland Security police outside of the offices of a Homeland Security contractor after several immigrants were taken into custody in Chicago on June 4.
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Trump's immigration crackdown is also being cited as a key factor fueling a sharp drop in Hispanic foot traffic that has rattled major US retailers and beverage giants.
New data cited by the Wall Street Journal shows a dramatic shift in how and where Latino consumers are spending — a shift that analysts and executives are directly linking to fears stoked by ICE raids on undocumented residents.
In the first quarter of 2025, the share of Hispanic shoppers visiting physical stores plummeted to 53%, down from 62% at the end of 2024, according to a May report from market research firm Kantar.
Meanwhile, online purchases rose to 58%, up from 51% in the same period.
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Some of the biggest retail brands saw Hispanic customer traffic take a hit.
Walgreens experienced a 10.5% drop, Home Depot fell 8.7% and Dollar General slid 6.1%, Kantar found.
Executives say the decrease is driven by a mix of inflation pressures, changing consumer habits and a surge in immigration enforcement that's left many Latino shoppers afraid to go out.
6 A man is detained by plainclothes officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after his court hearing in a hallway at New York-Federal Plaza Immigration Court inside the Jacob K. Javitz Federal Building in New York City on June 6.
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That shift has put immense pressure on brands like Coca-Cola, which has long leaned on Latino consumers for growth.
Coke's North American sales volume fell 3% in the first quarter, a decline executives partly blamed on reduced Hispanic spending.
The impact has rippled across industries. Companies from Constellation Brands, which makes Modelo, to JD Sports, which owns Shoe Palace, are seeing sales fall.
'We have seen a huge decline in traffic,' said Régis Schultz, CEO of JD Sports, in a May earnings call.
'You can see definitively the impact' of the immigration policy, he said.
Hispanics make up nearly 1 in 5 Americans and one-quarter of Gen Z, with an estimated $2.1 trillion in annual spending power. But recent ICE raids, fears of deportation and job losses in industries like construction have led many Latino families to stay home and tighten their wallets.
In rural towns like Plum Grove, Texas, residents report seeing ICE agents regularly near convenience stores, deterring shoppers.
6 Protesters clash with NYPD police officers demonstrating against recent deportations and ICE raids on Tuesday.
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'I think it's the fear,' Dennis Kim told the Journal.
Kim is owner of Let's Go Market in Cleveland, Texas, where sales dropped nearly 30% in February and have yet to rebound.
Modelo, which overtook Bud Light last year as America's top-selling beer, is now seeing sales slip.
'If that consumer has concerns, issues, et cetera, that's a big deal for us,' Constellation CEO Bill Newlands told investors on a recent earnings call.
The company now conducts monthly surveys of Hispanic buyers and found 75% are dining out less. Many are skipping social gatherings where alcohol is typically served.
The Post has sought comment from the White House.