Fact Check: "The New York Times was the first to report the Trump administration's decision to limit ICE enforcement at farms, hotels, and restaurants."
What We Know
On June 13, 2025, The New York Times reported that the Trump administration had decided to pause Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and arrests at farms, hotels, and restaurants. This decision was communicated through an internal email from Tatum King, a senior ICE official, to regional leaders, instructing them to halt work site enforcement operations in these sectors. The article highlighted that this shift in policy was influenced by concerns from industries reliant on immigrant labor, particularly after President Trump acknowledged that aggressive immigration enforcement was negatively impacting American farmers and hospitality businesses.
The guidance indicated that while raids on these industries would be paused, investigations related to human trafficking and other serious crimes could continue. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed this directive, emphasizing a focus on removing "the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens" while avoiding arrests of undocumented individuals who had not committed crimes.
Analysis
The claim that The New York Times was the first to report this decision is supported by the publication's own article, which details the internal communications and the context surrounding the policy change. The article provides a comprehensive overview of the implications of this shift, noting that it followed increased pressure from industries concerned about labor shortages due to previous ICE enforcement actions.
Other news outlets, such as the Associated Press and Reuters, reported on the same directive shortly after, confirming the contents of the email and the administration's rationale behind the pause. However, The New York Times appears to have been the initial source to break this story, as their article was published before the others.
In evaluating the reliability of The New York Times, it is important to note that it is a well-established news organization with a history of investigative journalism. The article was authored by Hamed Aleaziz and Zolan Kanno-Youngs, both of whom are credible reporters with expertise in covering immigration and political issues. The information presented in the article is corroborated by multiple sources, including official statements from the Department of Homeland Security.
Conclusion
The claim that The New York Times was the first to report the Trump administration's decision to limit ICE enforcement at farms, hotels, and restaurants is True. The publication's timely reporting on the internal directive, along with the context provided, supports this assertion. Subsequent reports from other news organizations confirm the accuracy of the information initially presented by The New York Times.
Sources
- Trump Shifts Deportation Focus, Pausing Most Raids on Farms, Hotels and ... The New York Times
- ICE ordered to pause most raids on farms, hotels and restaurants Reuters
- Trump pauses ICE arrests at farms, hotels and other key industries | AP Associated Press
- Inside Trump's Extraordinary Turnaround on Immigration ... The New York Times
- Trump Tells Farmers 'Changes Are Coming' to Immigration ... The New York Times
- Trump curbs immigration enforcement at farms ... - ABC7 New York ABC7
- ICE directed to pause immigration arrests at farms, hotels ... CBS News
- Trump team tells ICE to slow arrests at farms and hotels: report Independent
