ICE Raids Resume on Farms, Hotels, and Restaurants — A Dire Warning for Essential Undocumented Workers
In his latest run for President of the United States, Donald Trump campaigned on a promise to deport millions of “illegal immigrants.” Although at first targeting immigrants charged with violent crimes, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has recently turned its attention to raiding workplaces and hauling up anyone without proper documentation. This sudden move was met with swift backlash, igniting protests around the country.
In response to pressure from business owners in key sectors that rely on an immigrant workforce, President Trump announced that ICE would back off from detaining people in certain vital sectors such as agriculture, hospitality and food processing. Yet after only a brief pause, perhaps bowing to the immigration hardliners in his base (including high-level members of his cabinet), Trump has most recently announced ICE enforcement in these key industries will resume.
This abrupt shift, rooted in political maneuvering and economic pressure, has ignited fears across immigrant communities and raised urgent questions about who’s safe—and who’s next. Read on for a review of the situation as of this writing. If you or a loved one has been picked up and are facing removal, remember that you do have rights. Contact Gladstein & Messinger, P.C., in Queens, New York, for practical advice and strategic representation from an experienced immigration deportation defense lawyer.
What Happened: Policy Whiplash on Workplace Raids
On June 12, President Trump signaled a temporary retreat from his aggressive immigration posture, acknowledging that farms, meatpackers, hotels, and restaurants rely heavily on undocumented labor. “These jobs are almost impossible to replace,” he wrote on Truth Social, announcing a pause in ICE raids targeting non-criminal workers in these.
That reprieve, however, lasted barely four days. As hardline advisers like Stephen Miller and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem asserted pressure, the White House quickly reversed course. On June 16, DHS and ICE issued new guidance: workplace raids would resume, with explicit instructions to agricultural, hospitality, and processing industries—no exemptions, no safe zones.
The whiplash is stunning: one moment a reprieve, the next a mandate to resume widespread raids, with a daily target of3,000 arrests. Employers, deeply concerned about disrupted food chains and labor gaps, have found themselves caught in the middle, not to mention the workers whose lives and livelihoods are at risk.
Who’s Really Affected?
Although ICE claims to target “criminal illegal aliens,” field reports tell a different story: the vast majority of workplace arrests involve individuals whose only “offense” is unauthorized presence in the United States. In the fields of agriculture, hotel cleaning, and restaurant kitchens, just to name a few, millions of undocumented workers fill essential roles no one else can hold.
In California’s Central Valley and Nebraska, hundreds of farm and meat-plant workers were detained earlier in June. In Los Angeles, raids from June 6 sparked violent clashes, with one sweep at a garment factory prompting mass protests and deployment of the National Guard and Marines.
While California may seem like the nation’s biggest flashpoint for workplace immigration raids and protests, it is by far not the only one. In New York’s upstate regions, agents recently intercepted a farmworkers’ bus and detained more than a dozen individuals whose only offense was undocumented status, according to the United Farm Workers union. These were dedicated seasonal laborers—working long hours to make ends meet—who became targets simply for being undocumented.
Meanwhile, in New York City itself, ICE has intensified sweeps that reach far beyond agricultural worksites. In late January, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem personally joined federal agents during a raid on a local building, resulting in arrests of individuals accused of violent crimes, but critics noted that among the detained were individuals without criminal history or warrants in New York. The ripple effect has been stark: in early June, mass protests erupted outside federal courthouses in Manhattan and Trump Tower, with crowds chanting “ICE out of New York City,” in response to this wave of aggressive enforcement.
These are not isolated incidents. In Queens, Roosevelt Avenue—an area with a high concentration of immigrant-run small businesses—remains a dire scene of daily fear. Street vendors, laborers, and service workers wake up every day wondering if today will be the day ICE shows up, even though their only “crime” is unauthorized entry. The relentless pressure, marked by the threat of workplace raids, instills not just fear but collective trauma—making it harder for people to work, access essential services, or breathe a moment of relief.
In short, these are not “violent criminals.” They are essential workers: harvesting food, cleaning hotels, cooking meals, driving public transit routes, and caring for local families. Their contributions are immeasurable, and yet they’ve been reduced to targets in a political campaign to deliver on mass deportation rhetoric. This is not about public safety. It’s about scapegoating hardworking people whose only wrongdoing is seeking a better life.
Why This Shift Matters—And Why It’s Dangerous
1. Fear Spreads Quickly
Even a brief pause offered a glimpse of hope, but the reversal shattered that illusion. Immigrants are now told there are no safe spaces—not in fields or hotels, and not even in major cities like NYC that have long resisted aggressive ICE action.
2. Economic Disruption
Agricultural and hospitality leaders warned that removing undocumented laborers mid-season threatens crop harvesting, food supply, and local economies dependent on these industries.
3. Policy is Driven by Power Plays, Not Public Safety
The flip-flops reflect internal White House battles and Trump’s political posturing, especially his focus on Democratic-led cities. The true motivator appears to be political symbolism more than actual law enforcement priorities.
4. Civil Liberties at Risk
The expanded scope of raids threatens constitutional rights, raises due process concerns, and risks wrongful detention—even of U.S. citizens and legal residents arrested accidentally in sweeps.
What Undocumented Essential Workers Must Know
1. Be Prepared
If ICE agents enter your workplace, you have rights—remain calm, ask if they have a warrant, and do not sign anything without a lawyer present.
2. Know Your Rights at Home
You have rights against unlawful searches. Don’t open the door unless ICE shows a judicial warrant. For a search warrant, check the name and address and ask for a copy to present to your lawyer.
3. Stay Informed and Connected
Community groups, legal aid networks, and trusted nonprofits offer support. Know who to call if ICE arrives unexpectedly.
4. Seek Legal Advice Immediately
Even if you’ve been in the U.S. for a long time with no criminal record, various defenses might apply—like asylum, cancellation of removal, or relief under the Convention Against Torture.
Legal Defenses That Can Make a Difference
Having an experienced removal defense attorney is critical—they can help prepare your case, navigate ICE detention, and file the right applications before deadlines expire.
For undocumented immigrants facing deportation, several potential defenses may provide a path to remain in the United States. Some individuals may qualify for asylum or withholding of removal if they can demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution in their home country based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Others may be eligible for protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT) if they can show that returning to their country would likely result in torture, either directly by the government or with the government’s consent.
Long-term U.S. residents with strong family and community ties might be able to apply for cancellation of removal, which could allow them to stay in the country legally if their deportation would cause exceptional hardship to a spouse, child, or parent who is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. Additionally, some individuals may qualify for waivers or adjustments of status based on family relationships, previous lawful entry, or other humanitarian grounds.
These defenses are complex and often hinge on the specific facts of each case, making it essential to consult an experienced immigration attorney as early as possible to explore all available options.
Why You Need an Immigration Removal Defense Lawyer
In today’s volatile enforcement climate, a knowledgeable attorney isn’t just helpful. They are often the only thing standing between you and deportation. At Gladstein & Messinger, P.C., we have decades of experience representing individuals in ICE removal proceedings. We know how to:
- Challenge unlawful detentions and ICE warrants.
- File for credible fear interviews if detained.
- Prepare strong legal defenses before an immigration judge.
- Advocate for relief under asylum, waivers, CAT, cancellation of removal, or status adjustment.
With arrests ramping up—especially with the revived daily arrest quota—there’s no time to lose. Acting early can mean the difference between obtaining lawful status and being removed from the only home you’ve ever known.
Act Now to Protect Yourself, Your Family, and Your Future
If you or a loved one is undocumented and working in agriculture, hospitality, or other essential services, today’s headlines are more than news—they’re a call to action.
- Stay vigilant. Raids could happen anywhere, any time.
- Educate yourself about what ICE can and cannot do.
- Reach out to legal counsel immediately if ICE shows up.
- Build your defense case now. Don’t wait until it’s too late.
At Gladstein & Messinger, P.C., our attorneys are on the front lines defending immigrant rights. We’re available to consult, represent, and fight for your ability to stay in the U.S. and continue contributing to your community. Contact us today to discuss your case or for immediate assistance fighting deportation and removal.
