WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has arrested more than 1,000 undocumented workers since January 20, marking what the agency calls the highest rate of worksite enforcement arrests in its history.
The arrests, announced Monday, are part of ICE’s expanded efforts under the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) division to identify and penalize employers who hire workers without legal employment authorization. ICE has proposed nearly $1 million in civil fines tied to ongoing investigations involving approximately 1,200 businesses.
“This is the highest rate of arrest in HSI’s history,” said Acting HSI Director Robert Hammer. “We’ve subpoenaed the business records of about 1,200 businesses, and as part of our review, we’ve proposed close to $1 million in fines.”
The enforcement surge follows former President Donald Trump’s executive order titled “Protecting the American People Against Invasion,” and focuses on enforcing the Immigration and Nationality Act. HSI is targeting both undocumented workers and the businesses that employ them, according to officials.
In addition to arrests, ICE has pursued related investigations. On April 2, a civil complaint was filed against a Chinese money laundering organization accused of using a staffing company to funnel illegal labor into an Ohio factory. The case, developed in partnership with the IRS’ Criminal Investigation division, includes the seizure of 14 properties, seven bank accounts, and 15 vehicles.
Nationwide operations span multiple states, industries
Other recent actions include a sweep in Louisiana that led to 11 arrests, an operation in Pennsylvania that resulted in four arrests, and a New Jersey enforcement effort that placed 16 undocumented workers into ICE custody. ICE officials emphasized that knowingly hiring illegal aliens remains a federal crime.
“Businesses that exploit and hire illegal workers are harming the American public,” Hammer added, highlighting the dual focus on immigration enforcement and worker exploitation prevention.
ICE encourages employers to enroll in the agency’s IMAGE program, which offers training to enhance compliance with federal employment verification laws and detect fraudulent hiring practices. The agency says the program also covers issues such as forced labor and child labor.
Key Points
- ICE has arrested over 1,000 illegal workers since January 20 in the agency’s largest worksite enforcement campaign to date.
- Nearly $1 million in proposed fines target businesses that allegedly employed undocumented labor.
- A major case in Ohio alleges a Chinese-run staffing company laundered money and harbored illegal workers.
ICE says businesses face serious legal consequences for employing unauthorized workers under federal immigration law.
