'What's Your Message To Them?': Kristi Noem Grilled Over Impact Of Raids On Farms Reliant On Migrant Labor

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem was asked about the role of immigrant workers in U.S. agriculture and the impact of ICE raids.

Transcript

00:00When individuals do things the right way, they can be rewarded for that.

00:04Yes?

00:04Madam Secretary, Tennessee has a lot of farmers that rely on immigrant, migrant workers to be able to yield their crops.

00:11What's your message to them on what they should do?

00:13You know, what I would tell them is we've got visa programs that they can participate in to help them with their workforce issues.

00:19The H-2A visa program is under my purview, and I don't have a limit on how many of those I can issue.

00:25I would encourage them to reach out, and we can help them meet that workforce if the need is there.

00:30Many times there's people in this country as well that are looking to fill positions,

00:34but I will be very clear in saying that there will be no amnesty under the Trump administration,

00:40that individuals who are here illegally, we're hopeful that they will come and do it the right way,

00:44and that we'll make sure that we streamline and get rid of the bureaucratic, you know, hiccups

00:49and things that have slowed down the process in the past.

00:52We are streamlining the paperwork process and the application process,

00:56so it's much quicker and responsive to the needs that farmers have.

00:59Yes.