On Thursday, US President Donald Trump said that farmers in the United States might be allowed to ask for undocumented farmworkers to come back — but only after those workers leave the country and return legally.

“We’re going to work with farmers that, if they have strong recommendations for their farms, for certain people, that we're going to let them stay in for a while and work with the farmers and then come back and go through a process, a legal process. We have to take care of our farmers and hotels and various places where they need the people,” Trump said. He said, “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.”

During his previous term, Trump had assured farmers that immigration enforcement wouldn’t affect their workers. However, this time, no such promise has been made. As a result, many undocumented farmworkers are feeling uncertain and are taking precautions, like choosing legal guardians for their children and getting ready in case they are detained, according to a report by Reuters. In his second term, Trump has suggested major updates to U.S. agricultural policy. His 2025 farm plan mainly focuses on cutting down government control over farming, making it easier to get approval for genetically modified crops, and changing the rules for using pesticides. He also wants to change how farm subsidies are given and push for more agricultural exports. According to Trump, these steps will help farmers innovate more and compete better in global markets. “We are cutting unnecessary red tape to let our farmers thrive,” he said in a recent address.

One of the most talked-about parts of his plans is the change in farm subsidies. The government wants to cut down on direct payments to farmers and instead spend more on improving farming technology. But critics say this could hurt small and medium-sized farms the most, as they depend on these payments to deal with ups and downs in the market. Trump also wants to boost international trade for US farm products, especially in Asia and West Asia, to reduce reliance on China. However, experts say that political tensions between countries might make this difficult to achieve. Environmental policies have become a point of debate. Trump's plan, "Project 2025," suggests eliminating programs like the Conservation Reserve Program and cutting back on climate-friendly agricultural investments. This has raised concerns about the long-term impact on sustainability, with mixed reactions from various groups in the farming community.

Trump’s strict immigration policies have sparked global discussions on human rights and national sovereignty. Since January 2025, the U.S. administration has stepped up efforts to deport undocumented migrants, using military planes to send thousands of people back to countries like India, Guatemala, and Honduras. In February alone, 333 Indian nationals were deported on three military flights, while another 55 were sent on commercial flights through Panama. The Indian government confirmed these numbers in Parliament, with Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, stating that further deportations are still awaiting verification. Trump has defended these measures as essential to restoring ‘law and order’. In a fiery speech, he declared, “Anyone who illegally crosses will be detained until they are removed...and they will be brought great distances. We are not dropping them right across.” 

He stressed the importance of creating a special team to handle deportation, focusing on criminals, people who have overstayed their visas, and those putting pressure on public welfare systems. The policy has received criticism from around the world. At one point, Colombia stopped US deportation flights because of worries about how migrants were being treated. However, it reversed that decision later due to economic pressure. Critics say that sending large numbers of people back like this could harm human rights and create problems in international relations. Still, Trump remains firm, stating, “If you break the law...you can find your way at Guantanamo Bay.”