Why Did Trump Order a Halt to Raids on Agriculture and Hospitality Amid Protests?

Synopsis
In a surprising shift, President Trump has ordered ICE to pause immigration raids in critical industries amid protests. This decision reflects the impact of mass deportation on his political base and the economy. Discover the implications of this directive and the ongoing protests in Southern California.
Key Takeaways
- Trump's directive pauses ICE raids in agriculture and hospitality.
- Protests have escalated in response to recent ICE actions.
- Ongoing investigations into serious crimes will continue.
- Widespread public dissent is influencing immigration policy.
- A significant number of arrests have occurred during protests.
Washington, June 14 (NationPress) US President Donald Trump has directed officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to pause raids and arrests within the agricultural sector, hotels, and restaurants, marking a significant shift in the mass deportation strategy, as reported by a media outlet.
The New York Times indicated that this decision was taken because the mass deportation actions were negatively affecting industries and communities that Trump aims to retain as part of his core support base.
Reportedly, Tatum King, a senior official at ICE, sent a communication on Thursday to regional leaders within the agency, outlining the new directive.
"Starting today, please suspend all work site enforcement operations in agriculture (including aquaculture and meat processing plants), restaurants, and operational hotels," the communication stated.
However, the email clarified that ongoing investigations related to "human trafficking, money laundering, and drug smuggling into these sectors" should continue.
Furthermore, the directive instructed agents to refrain from detaining individuals categorized as "noncriminal collaterals," which pertains to undocumented individuals without any criminal history.
The US Department of Homeland Security has verified these developments.
"We will adhere to the President's directive and remain focused on removing the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens from the streets of America," stated Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the department.
This directive followed a series of raids conducted by ICE and other federal law enforcement agencies in southern California, which ignited widespread protests.
A protest in Santa Ana, located 50 km east of downtown Los Angeles, led to multiple injuries and arrests as demonstrators confronted federal and local law enforcement.
This protest was sparked by daytime raids by ICE across Santa Ana, a city with over 300,000 residents and the capital of Orange County.
Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento mentioned to the Orange County Register that immigration officials seemed to have focused on day laborers seeking employment.
Approximately 200 demonstrators, brandishing flags and signs, gathered outside a federal building in downtown Santa Ana, which houses ICE and other federal offices, to voice their opposition to the raids.
The situation escalated, resulting in chaos after law enforcement allegedly fired into the crowd.
California has taken legal action against the Trump administration after the President ordered the dispatch of 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles without state consent in response to the protests.
Reports indicate that nearly 400 individuals have been arrested or detained by the Los Angeles Police Department during immigration protests since Saturday.
This includes 330 undocumented immigrants and 157 individuals apprehended for assault and obstruction, as reported by Xinhua news agency citing BBC News.
On the first night of the curfew imposed in the second-largest city in the US, law enforcement made 203 arrests for failure to disperse and another 17 for violating the curfew, as per a statement from the Los Angeles Police Department.