U.S. President Donald Trump told members of the American Farm Bureau Federation that the agriculture industry needs immigrant workers, but those workers need to be in the country legally.
Trump on January 14 addressed the AFBF national convention.
Trump spent a large portion of his speech addressing the issue of border security and the fight to build a wall at the country’s border with Mexico. Trump wants the wall, and he told AFBF members that having a wall will actually be good for the U.S. and its agriculture industry.
“I will tell you, I want people coming into our country, but they have to come in legally. They have to come in through a process,” said Trump.
Trump said he understands there have been many productive immigrant farm workers in the United States who have entered the country legally, and his border security ideas will help them and those for whom they are employed.
“When we have proper security, people aren’t going to come, except for the people we want to come, because we want to take people in to help our farmers, etc.”
“You need these people. It will make it easier. … I’m glad I told you that because, look, you’re in the business and a lot of people don’t understand this. You need people to help you with the farms and I’m not going to rule this out. … You’ve had some people for 20-25 years that are incredible, and then they go home. And they can’t get back in. That’s not going to happen, but we can’t keep the wrong ones out.”
Trump, who was introduced to the crowd by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, stressed to AFBF members that he knows what he’s talking about when it comes to agricultural issues.
“I know a lot about the farming world, and if I don’t, Sonny teaches me,” Trump said.
Trump’s latest speech was made at AFBF’s 100th anniversary convention. He also spoke at the 2018 Farm Bureau convention.