Days after pausing workplace immigration raids at farms, hotels, and food processing plants, the Trump administration reversed course, reinforcing that employers should be taking proactive steps to prepare amid the conflicting directives.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) halted most worksite raids in agriculture, hospitality, and food processing sectors on June 12 following pressure from business leaders who warned that aggressive crackdowns were threatening labor shortages.
But the relief was short-lived. On June 18, ICE signaled it would continue worksite enforcement of agriculture, hospitality, and food processing employers, signaling that no industry would be shielded.
“There was finally a sense of calm,” said Rebecca Shi, CEO of the American Business Immigration Coalition in Chicago. “Now, there’s fear and worry once more.”
The policy back-and-forth reflects a clash between the Trump administration’s immigration stance and economic realities. With unemployment at 4.2%, employers remain heavily reliant on immigrant workers. About half of the more than 850,000 crop workers in the U.S. are undocumented, according to the Department of Agriculture.
Employers must continue to prepare for possible immigration enforcement, including Form I-9 audits and worksite raids, notwithstanding the twists and turns of federal directives.
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