Sen. Jim Justice (R-WV) is urging President Donald Trump to take a lighter hand when it comes to immigration enforcement amid an outcry from ranchers, according to Politico.
Ranching groups recently expressed concern over federal immigration raids in Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma, saying they are costing the industry millions of dollars and hurting supply chains, the outlet reported.
“Before you know it, you get people that get carried away in their job and whatever it may be, and all of a sudden, then you’re dragging people away that have lived on your street corner for 15 years, and I don’t know that we need to be doing that stuff,” Justice said in an interview Tuesday.
“To get better, the first thing you got to do is admit you’re doing something wrong,” he said. “And in this situation, with all that’s going on and all the stuff, we probably got to step back from it and say, ‘Maybe we’re doing something wrong here or there,’ and then adjust to that.”
Ranching industry leaders have said Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations have scared laborers away from showing up to work, hurting their profits, Politico reported.
“It is a very difficult balancing act from the standpoint of our ranchers … all of a sudden, they’re understaffed,” Justice said.
On Wednesday, Justice, a Trump ally, took to X to clarify his stance on immigration raids.
“Let me be crystal clear: I support President Trump’s immigration strategy, full stop,” Justice wrote. “Our brave ICE officers are doing an incredible job protecting our communities, and they must continue to focus on criminals who are here illegally and putting Americans in danger.”
Justice is not the only Republican speaking out about the impact of the mass deportation campaign on the agricultural industry.
“It really makes it incumbent on DHS to make sure for the folks that can be here, if there’s permitting and processing, that we get that done,” Republican Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota said. “Because a lot of those folks are legal temporary workers.”
Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) went even harder in a recent campaign video, condemning the president, who endorsed her for reelection. Salazar argued that Trump’s aggressive immigration raids are alienating Hispanic voters who helped him secure the presidency in 2024.
“Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far,” Salazar said in the ad. “Be careful what your advisers are telling you about immigration policy. The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today.”
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