Trump pitches plan allowing farmers to vouch for illegal immigrant workers facing deportation

The Trump administration plans to implement a process whereby farmers in Iowa can vouch for hard-working, law-abiding migrant farmworkers who may be facing deportation, so that they can remain in the U.S.

"We don't want to do [border security] where we take all of the workers off the farms," Trump added. "We want the farms to do great."

According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, Iowa is the nation's second-largest agricultural exporting state. 

While announcing the new plan, Trump cited cases he had heard of when migrants who have worked on farms for 15 years "get thrown out pretty viciously."

"We can't do that," Trump added. "We got to work with the farmers and people that have hotels and leisure properties."

After the president first brought up the proposal earlier this week, critics have already started sounding off.

"So, if I'm to understand this correctly, we should look the other way regarding illegal immigration as long as it's in the construction, hotel, or restaurant industries? This is far beyond disappointing, it's infuriating," California Republican state Sen. Melissa Melendez wrote on X.

The president noted Thursday evening that the move will put farmers "in charge" and ultimately the responsibility for any problems that arise will fall to their feet.  

"If the farmers don't do a good job, we'll throw them the hell out of the country. We'll let the guys - we'll let the illegals stay, and we'll throw the farmers the hell out," Trump said. "Okay, get ready, farmer, I'm telling you."