The Trump administration is intensifying its crackdown on illegal immigrants, targeting not just individuals but also the corporations that employ them. Following his second inauguration, President Trump has prioritized immigrant deportation as a key national policy, and this crackdown is seen as an activation of the 'Phase 2' measures for immigration deterrence.
According to the Washington Post (WP) on the 11th (local time), the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been expanding surprise field investigations primarily in the southern and western regions, including California, Texas, Florida, and Georgia, since May. In the first week of June alone, 46 illegal immigrants were arrested on a farm near Atlanta, Georgia, and reports suggest that the farm owner could face fines of up to $1 million (1.37 billion won).
ICE has established a 'special task force for deterring illegal immigrants in the workplace' and is augmenting its enforcement personnel by over 1,500 for aggressive crackdowns. According to industry insiders, ICE has set an internal performance metric aiming for a minimum of 3,000 arrests per day at its branches this year, reporting enforcement results weekly to the White House.
ICE recently stated, "Employing illegal immigrants threatens the foundation of our laws," adding, "Employers who deliberately disregard immigration laws to hire foreigners will face not only fines but also potential criminal prosecutions."
This crackdown has raised red flags across the U.S. industrial sector. The agricultural and livestock industries have already formed emergency response teams to negotiate with the White House. The National Farm Bureau issued a statement saying, "There is virtually no workforce available within the U.S. to handle low-wage, high-intensity labor," and warned that enforcement without regard for reality could threaten the agricultural supply chain. The California Restaurant Association (CRA) also pointed out that "over 20% of the restaurant industry relies on illegal immigrant labor," emphasizing that improving the labor market structure is more urgent than enforcement against immigrants.
Human rights groups are also responding strongly. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), an organization protecting immigrant rights, criticized the crackdown, stating, "This action creates a climate of fear for all immigrants, regardless of their residency status," and noted that human rights violations are surfacing during the enforcement process. Last week, a complaint was raised regarding ICE officers randomly demanding identification from employees at a bakery in New Jersey, raising concerns about the use of force during arrests.
Reactions from the political sphere are mixed. The Republican Party is fully supporting President Trump's tough response. House Republican Whip Steve Scalise stated, "Controlling the border is essential, but we must also eradicate illegal employment within the U.S. to achieve true national security."
In contrast, the Democratic Party is criticizing the measures as a 'political spectacle against immigrants disguised as economic reasoning.' Senator Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez remarked that the crackdown targets low-income and communities of color as a 'political scapegoating,' asserting that relying again on enforcement and punishment at a time when dialogue is needed is outdated.
During its first term, the Trump administration had also strengthened ICE's employer crackdowns, but enforcement was effectively halted during the administration of President Joe Biden as regulations were relaxed. Consequently, President Trump signed an executive order for 'border security and protection of domestic employment' as soon as he began his term, formalizing the reintroduction of immigration regulations.
There are also concerns that this crackdown may impact the overall U.S. labor market. The Brookings Institution noted in a recent report that "If enforcement is strengthened in industries that have depended on immigrant labor, it is unavoidable that productivity and job stability will suffer in the short term," adding that a policy sophistication is required to balance immigration control and labor demand.