MAGA on "amnesty watch" as Trump weighs migrant worker protections

President Trump's base is on high alert over his mixed messages on protections for some undocumented workers, warning that any form of "amnesty" would violate a red line.Why it matters: MAGA sees Trump's promise of mass deportations as non-negotiable. Any attempt to water down the administration's immigration crackdown risks alienating his most loyal and fervent supporters."MAGA is always on amnesty watch. It will not move forward no matter what name anyone tries to call it. They all have to go home," right-wing podcaster Jack Posobiec told Axios.Catch up quick: Trump has spent weeks flirting with the idea of shielding undocumented workers in agriculture and hospitality — industries critical to the economy and to GOP donors — from deportation.He has insisted there will be "no amnesty," but also suggested that some workers might be allowed to stay if their employers "take responsibility" for them."What we're doing is getting rid of criminals. But we are doing a work program," Trump said at a Cabinet meeting this week.Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins initially echoed the softer tone, but later stressed at a press conference: "There will be no amnesty. The mass deportations continue, but in a strategic way."Driving the news: MAGA influencers had been grumbling for days over the muddled rhetoric, but the dam burst Monday when influential podcaster Charlie Kirk warned of a plot by the "ruling class" to implement some kind of "mass amnesty" plan."There is a movement afoot…[People] are pushing President Trump for amnesty, they are pushing him for mass legalization of illegals," Kirk claimed.Social media panic ensued, with MAGA accounts and Republican senators plastering "no amnesty!" across their social media accounts.On Tuesday, after praising Rollins' "no amnesty" statement, Kirk warned of a "narrative in the next couple of months" from "the corporate class."The plan, he claimed, would offer undocumented immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for at least a decade — and avoided criminal charges — a pathway to legal residency.Backlash quickly spread across MAGA media, from Steve Bannon's "War Room" to Posobiec's "Human Events Daily" podcast. "Mass deportations now, amnesty never," Bannon declared Tuesday morning.The intrigue: Trump, for his part, appeared taken aback. "What are they talking about?" he asked aides, according to The Washington Post.A White House official told Axios that the administration is streamlining its visa programs to both ensure efficiency and that farmers have what they need."President Trump is fulfilling his promise to the American people to carry out the largest mass deportation operation in history. There will be no amnesty. Only deportations of the violent, criminal illegal aliens that Joe Biden welcomed into the country," White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement.Between the lines: Trump's broad coalition isn't entirely united on the issue.Immigration hardliners view anything resembling protections for undocumented immigrants as a betrayal. For them, "amnesty" is a political profanity.But Trump also courted more moderate voices in 2024 like Joe Rogan, who has voiced concerns on his massive podcast about aggressive workplace raids.Agriculture and hospitality executives — including some of Trump's most influential donors — are also pushing for flexibility."Business needs labor. That has been heavily communicated to the admin," one GOP donor texted Axios, adding the message had been delivered directly to Trump and his aides.The bottom line: For the core of Trump's base, the immigration issue is viewed as nothing short of existential.The movement has long warned that both legal and illegal immigration are reshaping the country's identity and threatening American jobs. "He cannot look like he's changing his tone. I think he's getting some really, really bad advice from some of his big donors that own hotels, that own Big Ag," one senior MAGA media figure told Axios. "It's so primary to what MAGA voters…care about."

Comments

World news

Walmart recalls 850,000 water bottles after two customers suffer ‘permanent blindness’ from exploding caps

Independent

Restaurant worker finds gun and accidentally fires it, injuring himself and two customers: ‘Silliest thing I’ve seen in quite some time’

about 6 hours ago

Social Security is pulling workers from its field offices to man the growing number of calls at its 1-800 number

Independent

Comments

Similar News

Trump taps "alpha male" MAGA influencer as ambassador

MAGA congressman claims Biden administration ‘destroyed everything’ in the Epstein files

"This will not just go away": Trump faces MAGA trust crisis over Epstein debacle

MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk claims Texas flood death toll ‘would not have been as high if it wasn’t for DEI’

Can Trump’s exemptions for undocumented farm laborers succeed without angering MAGA?

Fox News joins MAGA meltdown over Epstein ‘client list’ flop, but steers clear of criticizing Trump

Democratic voters are demanding reps fight dirty against Trump and MAGA: ‘There needs to be blood’

Top MAGA voices stunned by Trump administration debunking Epstein theories

Elon Musk and JD Vance’s fight for the Maga crown could be the messiest yet

Maga influencer and de facto national security adviser Laura Loomer holds outsized sway on Trump

What the Iran Strikes Reveal About MAGA

World news

Walmart recalls 850,000 water bottles after two customers suffer ‘permanent blindness’ from exploding caps

Paxton’s divorce adds another wrinkle to a chaotic Texas race that could decide control of the Senate

Delta stowaway sentenced after sneaking on flight out of JFK

Hiker dies in Grand Canyon as park warns of dangerous temperatures

Trump plans to send Ukraine weapons via NATO allies

Megadrama hits Texas Senate race

Why gamblers are raging over Trump's "big, beautiful bill"

RFK Jr. cuts access to free programs, Head Start for undocumented immigrants

Palestinian activist detained by ICE suing Trump administration for $20m

Pierre Poilievre is against loan for new BC Ferries to be built in China

Edmonton father and son charged with human trafficking of workers at rural businesses

Alberta government sets deadline for AISH recipients to apply for CDB

Pediatric unit reusumes some services at Kelowna General Hospital

At Least 13 People Died by Suicide Amid U.K. Post Office Scandal, Report Says

Airborne SUV lands on pedestrian in wheelchair in North Vancouver parking lot

Starmer ‘accepts invite’ to visit Trump during expected trip to Scotland

Global Citizen takes its fight against poverty to the world's growing cities

Lisa Murkowski’s no good, very bad summer after ‘Big Beautiful’ vote: ‘I wish I had the luxury to regret things’

Where in the world is the FEMA head? Agency leader hasn’t been seen in over a week sparking concern

The Trump administration excludes undocumented children from Head Start

Has Trump Finally Turned on Putin?

Trump taps "alpha male" MAGA influencer as ambassador

What happened to Jordyn Dines? 16-year-old found dead in abandoned car south of Calgary

Port of Vancouver seeks bidders for massive Roberts Bank terminal expansion

Brazil's Lula warns of 50% tariffs on U.S. goods after Trump trade threat

Muskeg wildfire prompts state of emergency in Patuanak

Regina man launches app aimed at guiding people through addiction recovery

N.S. premier wishes $1.35M home-sharing program had resulted in more than 60 leases

Did Donald Trump Really Just Break Up with Vladimir Putin?

Israeli strike kills 10 children queuing at Gaza medical clinic

Trump-obsessed conspiracy theorist beheaded his dad on YouTube after making ‘citizens arrest’

Restaurant told to pay sous chef $3.5 million after he was attacked by head chef in front of customers

RFK Jr moves to kick thousands of undocumented kids off low-income Head Start pre-K program

FEMA blamed for holding up billions in grants to fight terrorism, officials claim

Indeed and Glassdoor become latest companies to fall victim to AI job cuts

Texas AG and Senate candidate Ken Paxton’s politician wife files for divorce on ‘biblical grounds’

Restaurant worker finds gun and accidentally fires it, injuring himself and two customers: ‘Silliest thing I’ve seen in quite some time’

Social Security is pulling workers from its field offices to man the growing number of calls at its 1-800 number

What is ‘alert fatigue’ and how is it causing a big problem in getting people to leave ahead of a disaster?

Chart-topping pop star announces he is running as a Democratic candidate

US disappointed by Russia’s ‘lack of flexibility’ to end Ukraine war as Kyiv pounded by drones

Gatwick-bound passengers left stranded in 'war zone' for 17 hours after couple caught smoking in toilets

France and U.K. Sign Key Deals on Migration, Nuclear Weapons

Trinity Test-area residents in New Mexico to finally get reparations 80 years later

Caster Semenya celebrates partial victory in sex eligibility case

Toronto Raptors sign Martin to two-way contract

Manitoba premier says an overpass is back on the table for site of intersection crash

Mark and Dale Hunter will lead Team Canada at 2026 world junior hockey championship

‘He’s flying’: Motorcyclist filmed zooming close to 300 km/h on Toronto-area highways

Ford recalling thousands of vehicles in the U.S. for fuel pump issues

Vancouver Pride Parade returning to Davie Village with new, shorter route

Costa Blanca horror as tourist slashed in neck while urinating in the street

This movie legend's 'pet' project is to resurrect a 12 foot tall bird from 600 years ago

Man 'poisoned mother-in-law's spices' in alleged plot to murder his ex's family

Judge blocks Trump's birthright order after Supreme Court ruling

Thousands celebrate baby hippo Moo Deng's first birthday at a Thailand zoo

A harrowing journey to find food in Gaza

Friday Briefing: Israel Says Iran Has Some Uranium Left

Targeting Brazil, Trump Tests Legal Limit of His Tariff Powers

Coal, the Last Survivor of Canada’s Parliament Hill Cat Colony, Dies