Immigration Raids Stir Fear Among Undocumented Workers Across the US

Recent shifts in immigration enforcement policies under the Trump administration are triggering widespread disruption across critical sectors of the US economy, specifically agriculture, hospitality, and construction. 

The intensified pursuit of undocumented workers, fueled by controversial enforcement quotas, is prompting alarm among business owners who warn of operational paralysis and long-term economic repercussions. The immediate trigger for this renewed concern follows the Department of Homeland Security's abrupt policy pivot after a brief pause in immigration raids earlier this month. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin's declaration that no industries will be "safe spaces" if they "harbour violent criminals or purposely try to undermine enforcement efforts" has reintroduced significant uncertainty for employers.

The impact is immediate and far-reaching. In New Mexico, a single dairy farm saw its workforce plummet from 55 to 20 following a recent enforcement action. Beverly Idsinga, executive director of the Dairy Producers of New Mexico, highlighted the dire consequences, emphasising that dairy operations cannot simply cease. In Washington state's Wenatchee River Valley, cherry farmers are experiencing similar challenges as fear and rumours have led workers to abandon fields, despite a lack of confirmed raids. 

Orchard manager Jon Folden reported one operation's workforce shrinking from 150 to just 20 harvesters, without a viable contingency plan in place. The effects extend beyond agriculture. In Los Angeles, restaurant owners report increased absenteeism among Hispanic workers fearing encounters with federal authorities. 

Chef Claudio Gonzalez of the Little Tokyo district noted the workers are "too scared to work their shift," with fears of ethnic profiling. These operational challenges are exacerbated by ambitious enforcement targets. Under the direction of White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has reportedly been instructed to execute 3,000 arrests per day, a nearly fivefold increase from previous figures during Trump's second term. 

The presence of armed ICE officers at job sites has generated widespread alarm and sparked criticism from industry leaders. Rebecca Shi, chief executive of the American Business Immigration Coalition, said that ICE agents had been observed pointing assault rifles at cows while removing half the workforce.

Patrick Murphy, chief investment officer at Coastal Construction and a former Democratic congressman, notes that the unpredictable policy environment is detrimental to business planning. 

The increased enforcement comes as sectors are already facing severe labour shortages. National unemployment is at 4.2%, and industries requiring manual labour face significant challenges. According to Torsten Slok, chief economist at Apollo Global Management, undocumented workers fill roughly 13% of agricultural positions and 7% of hospitality roles. Eliminating large portions of this workforce risks worsening these shortages.

Data from the Pew Research Centre emphasises the significant role undocumented immigrants play in filling jobs that American citizens are less inclined to take. In 2023, foreign-born workers accounted for less than 19% of the overall US labour force, but represented a disproportionate share of certain sectors, including nearly 24% of food service roles and 38% of farming, fishing, and forestry jobs.

A 2024 Pew survey reveals that 75% of registered voters, including 59% of those aligned with President Trump, acknowledge that undocumented immigrants primarily take jobs that Americans do not want. 

Matt Teagarden, chief executive of the Kansas Livestock Association, has stated that those pushing for the raids are clearly unaware of how farms operate.

Advocates at the National Immigration Forum have highlighted heightened anxiety among immigrant families. Experts at the Brookings Institution have argued that immigration contributes positively to macroeconomic stability. Economists Wendy Edelberg and Tara Watson estimate that the post-pandemic influx of immigrants has raised the ceiling for job growth, enabling the economy to expand by as many as 200,000 new jobs per month without fueling inflation.