Tom Homan, the White House border czar, declared on Thursday that the Trump administration will persist with immigration raids at workplaces, including sectors such as agriculture, hospitality, and services. He emphasized, however, that the primary focus will be on immigrants with criminal records. "The message is crystal clear: we will continue conducting immigration enforcement operations at worksites, including farms and hotels, but our priority will be criminals," Homan stated to the press.
This clarification follows the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) decision to overturn a recent directive that had paused these types of operations at workplaces. According to Homan, these operations are a crucial component of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) strategy.
In an interview with Fox Business, Homan detailed that many of these actions are driven by criminal investigations related to crimes such as forced labor, human trafficking, tax fraud, and money laundering.
Clash Between Directives and Reversals
Last week, the DHS's Homeland Security Investigations team had temporarily halted raids at agricultural sector workplaces—including meatpacking plants, fisheries, restaurants, and hotels—according to an internal memo obtained by NBC News. Nevertheless, this decision was reversed by the DHS on Tuesday.
DHS spokeswoman Tricia Mclaughlin stressed, "There will be no safe havens for industries harboring violent criminals or those deliberately undermining ICE's efforts."
When questioned about the reason behind ICE's pause, Homan refrained from providing a direct answer, reiterating only that worksite operations "are an important part of our job."
Targeting Sanctuary Cities
Homan justified the administration's focus on so-called sanctuary cities like Los Angeles, pointing out that these cities "knowingly release public safety threats, undocumented immigrants, into the community every day." ICE raids in cities such as Los Angeles have sparked intense protests.
In response, President Trump has deployed the National Guard and Marine Corps units, which has drawn criticism from the Democratic Party. Additionally, it has come to light that Vice President JD Vance is expected to visit Los Angeles this week, though plans remain unconfirmed due to international circumstances.
A source close to federal law enforcement operations mentioned that California National Guard units, federalized by Trump's order, have been involved in planning the visit.
FAQs on Immigration Enforcement and Sanctuary Cities
What sectors are targeted by immigration raids?
Immigration raids target various sectors, including agriculture, hospitality, and services, with a focus on workplaces employing undocumented immigrants with criminal backgrounds.
Why are sanctuary cities a focus for immigration enforcement?
Sanctuary cities are targeted because they often release undocumented immigrants, who may pose public safety threats, back into the community, counteracting federal immigration enforcement efforts.
How have recent decisions affected immigration raids?
Recent decisions, such as the DHS's reversal of a pause on workplace raids, indicate a renewed commitment to aggressive immigration enforcement, particularly against those with criminal records.