Trump Administration Resumes Worksite Immigration Raids, Prioritizing Criminal Investigations
- The New York Editorial Desk - Arif
- Jun 19
- 2 min read
Tone & Political Bias: Moderately Right-Leaning
Why: The article emphasizes criminal enforcement and national security while defending federal crackdowns on sanctuary cities, aligning with conservative immigration priorities.
Raids to Continue with Criminal Focus
White House border czar Tom Homan announced Thursday that the Trump administration will continue immigration enforcement operations at worksites, including farms, restaurants, and hotels, despite a brief pause in activity by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) earlier this month. He stated that the renewed operations will prioritize individuals with criminal backgrounds.
“The message is clear now that we’re going to continue doing worksite enforcement operations, even on farms and hotels, but based on a prioritized basis. Criminals come first,” Homan said.
His comments came after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reversed recent guidance that had paused these enforcement efforts. The reversal marks a reaffirmation of the administration’s broader immigration agenda focused on detaining and deporting undocumented immigrants, especially in sanctuary cities.
Policy Reversal on Agricultural Worksites
Last week, DHS’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) team quietly directed ICE agents to pause immigration enforcement at specific sites in the agriculture and hospitality sectors, such as meatpacking plants, fisheries, and hotels. This internal guidance was outlined in a memo obtained by NBC News.
However, by Tuesday, that guidance had been rescinded. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin confirmed the reversal, saying, “There will be no safe spaces for industries who harbor violent criminals or purposely try to undermine ICE’s efforts.”
When asked about the pause in enforcement last week, Homan declined to give a direct answer, stating instead, “Worksite enforcement operations is an important part of the work we do.”
Investigations Will Center on Criminal Offenses
In an interview with Fox Business, Homan emphasized that many worksite enforcement actions are tied to broader criminal investigations. These include forced labor, human trafficking, tax fraud, and money laundering.
He stressed that ICE is prioritizing cases where employers are allegedly complicit in illegal activities, adding that this strategy is aimed at deterring businesses from hiring undocumented immigrants through exploitative practices.
Focus on Sanctuary Cities
Homan reaffirmed that the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts remain focused on sanctuary cities, which limit local cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
“They knowingly release public safety threats, illegal aliens to the community every day,” Homan said.
Los Angeles is among the cities where ICE has increased its activity, resulting in public protests. These demonstrations have escalated in recent weeks after President Trump deployed National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to maintain public order—moves that have drawn criticism from Democratic leaders and civil rights groups.
Vice President Vance May Visit Los Angeles
According to sources familiar with federal law enforcement operations, Vice President JD Vance may travel to Los Angeles in the coming days. Planning for the visit is underway, though final decisions are pending due to the evolving geopolitical situation in the Middle East.
California National Guard units that have been federalized by President Trump are reportedly involved in planning security for the potential visit. The visit would likely be aimed at reinforcing the administration’s stance on immigration enforcement amid continued unrest in sanctuary jurisdictions.
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