With federal agencies stepping up immigration enforcement in the workplace, it’s never been more important for HR professionals to be proactive and prepared.
“Across the board it’s definitely a challenging time right now,” Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey partner Lauren Hopwood said at CBIA’s 2026 Human Resources Conference May 20 in Bristol.
“A lot of employers are concerned about how to be best prepared if the government comes knocking.”
That concern extends beyond employers.
Workers are also navigating uncertainty about their rights, status, and how to respond if federal agents arrive at a workplace.
That message drove the discussion as Hopwood and Carmody associate Johanna Bachmair walked HR professionals through how to respond if Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers show up at a workplace.
They also highlighted the distinction between judicial and administrative warrants, how employers should communicate with workers, and what steps companies can take now to reduce I-9 compliance risk.
Bachmair said a key concept for employers to understand is that ICE’s authority changes depending on where officers are.
“Legally, ICE has different authority in public spaces,” she said, pointing to areas like sidewalks, parking lots, and public lobbies.
She said ICE does not have the right to enter private spaces without either a valid judicial warrant or consent.
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