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Trump Administration Tightens ICE Raids, Targets Key Economic Sectors

Tuesday, June 17, 2025 by Sofia Valdez

Under the leadership of Donald Trump, the U.S. administration has reactivated Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, expanding their reach to target crucial economic sectors. Recent exceptions for areas such as restaurants, hotels, and agricultural workplaces have been removed, according to an internal ICE memo obtained by NBC News and reported by Telemundo 51. This marks a significant shift in deportation policy following a short pause announced last week.

While the new directives halt arrests within workplaces, ICE agents are not restricted from apprehending workers within their communities, as confirmed by two sources associated with the operation, noted Telemundo 51. The ICE memo acknowledges that this new approach could impact their arrest statistics.

A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson declared that there will be no "safe spaces" for industries employing undocumented individuals. "Immigration enforcement at workplaces remains a cornerstone of our efforts to safeguard public safety, national security, and economic stability," the spokesperson stated.

The operations are aimed at dismantling "illegal employment networks that harm American workers, destabilize labor markets, and expose critical infrastructure to exploitation." A White House official disclosed that President Donald Trump intends to launch "the largest mass deportation program in history."

This aggressive campaign will focus particularly on sanctuary cities governed by Democrats, yet the goal is to enforce immigration laws nationwide. "Anyone in the United States without proper documentation is at risk of deportation," the official affirmed.

This stance represents a reversal from Trump's more conciliatory tone earlier, when he expressed willingness to exempt sectors like agriculture and hospitality after receiving complaints about losing valuable and irreplaceable workers. "Our farmers and the hospitality and leisure sectors have been saying that our aggressive immigration policy is stripping them of highly valuable and experienced workers," he wrote on his Truth Social network.

The renewed operations in sensitive sectors, home to thousands of migrant workers—including many Cubans—heighten the atmosphere of uncertainty and fear in vulnerable communities. Recently, in a message on Truth Social, President Trump defended his aggressive immigration policy, despite its pronounced impact on the real economy.

Rather than acknowledging the detrimental effects his policies are causing, he touted it as a political victory. "Our farmers and people in the hospitality and leisure sector have been saying that our aggressive immigration policy is depriving them of excellent, experienced workers, and those jobs are nearly impossible to replace," he reiterated on Truth Social.

Instead of addressing the harm caused, Trump insisted that criminals allowed into the country by Biden's "absurd open-border policy" are seeking those jobs.

Key Questions on ICE Raids and Immigration Policy

What changes did the Trump administration make to ICE operations?

The Trump administration reactivated ICE operations, removing exceptions for sectors like restaurants and agriculture, allowing agents to target key economic areas more broadly.

Are ICE agents allowed to arrest workers at their jobs?

The new guidelines prevent arrests within workplaces but do not restrict ICE agents from detaining workers within their communities.

What is the focus of the ICE raids under the new policy?

The raids focus on dismantling illegal employment networks that harm American workers and destabilize labor markets.

How does the Trump administration view sanctuary cities?

The administration plans to focus its aggressive deportation strategy on sanctuary cities, particularly those governed by Democrats.

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