ICE Launches Sweeping Crackdown on Undocumented Immigrants and Employers

ICE Launches Sweeping Crackdown on Undocumented Immigrants and Employers
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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced a major escalation in enforcement targeting all undocumented immigrants residing in the country, regardless of criminal history, along with the companies that employ them, Anadolu Agency reported. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons stated on Sunday that agents will arrest anyone found living unlawfully in the U.S.

Following directives from the Trump administration, ICE has reinstated broad immigration policies, including “collateral arrests,” which involve detaining non-criminal undocumented immigrants encountered during operations—policies that were limited during the Biden administration.

Lyons explained that sanctuary states and cities refusing to transfer noncitizen inmates have forced ICE to increase community arrests. “We would prefer to focus on criminal aliens already in detention, but we must operate in neighborhoods,” he said.

In the first half of 2025, ICE deported nearly 150,000 people, including about 70,000 with criminal convictions, many minor. Lyons did not rule out reaching the administration’s goal of 1 million deportations this year, citing increased congressional funding.

The agency has resumed large-scale worksite raids, recently arresting over 300 unauthorized workers, including minors, at a Nebraska meat plant, a Louisiana racetrack, and California cannabis farms.

ICE will prioritize prosecuting employers exploiting undocumented workers. Lyons affirmed, “Employers will be held accountable, one hundred percent.”