The Trump administration has instructed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to suspend most work-site raids and arrests in the agricultural, hotel and restaurant industries, according to an internal email obtained by the New York Times and confirmed by the Department of Homeland Security. The directive, sent 14 June, tells agents, “Effective today, please hold on all work-site enforcement investigations/operations on agriculture (including aquaculture and meat-packing plants), restaurants and operating hotels.” The pivot follows weeks of complaints from farm, hospitality and food-service employers that stepped-up deportations were exacerbating labour shortages and disrupting supply chains. Large demonstrations in California and lobbying by business groups added pressure, while political advisers reportedly warned the White House that the crackdown risked alienating key constituencies ahead of the 2026 mid-term elections. President Donald Trump, who has made strict immigration enforcement central to his agenda, acknowledged earlier this week that raids were taking away “very good, long-time workers” and said the new approach would protect farmers while still pursuing criminals. DHS officials said enforcement will now prioritise human trafficking, drug smuggling and money laundering cases rather than broad sweeps for undocumented labourers. The pause does not apply to immigrants with serious criminal records, and DHS emphasised the measure is temporary while it reviews the economic impact of work-site enforcement. The Wall Street Journal and other outlets reported that ICE field offices have been ordered to report back on labour market conditions before any future action is taken.