Across the United States, migrant workers are living in constant fear as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) steps up workplace raids under President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration policies. Despite fears of deportation, these workers often have no choice but to show up for work. For many, staying home isn’t an option—they have rent to pay, children to feed, and families to support.
One chilling example unfolded on June 10 in Oxnard, California, when ICE agents were seen chasing farmworkers through fields, even tackling some to the ground. Video footage captured by CNN affiliate KABC shows agents storming the farmland, sending shockwaves through immigrant communities. One woman, her face covered, said in Spanish, “It’s difficult for us… we just go wherever there’s work.”
The crackdown is part of Trump’s vow to launch the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. Now, the effects are being felt deeply in industries that rely heavily on immigrant labour, such as agriculture, hospitality, construction, and healthcare. These sectors are powered by millions of workers, many of whom are undocumented and now terrified of being caught up in sudden raids.
According to United Farm Workers President Teresa Romero, there are roughly 2.4 million farmworkers in the U.S., and about 40% of them lack legal status. She told CNN that farmworkers in California are growing more anxious by the day. “They’re terrified,” she said. “But they can’t afford to stay home. They’re telling their children what to do if they don’t come home.”
Even Trump appeared to acknowledge the pressure on key sectors, stating that his tough policies are removing long-time, irreplaceable workers from farms and businesses. Yet he maintained that his goal remains to expel criminals while protecting American industries—promising “changes are coming.”
Despite these assurances, many fear that the aggressive enforcement will do long-term damage. Romero warned that if the raids continue, the U.S. agriculture industry could collapse. “We’re not going to have the workers we need to do this work,” she stressed. “Agriculture in this country is going to disappear.”
The crackdown isn’t just affecting farms. In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass noted that people have stopped going to work out of fear, leading to empty store shelves. She said the city’s economy depends on the immigrant workforce and warned that entire sectors could shut down if fear keeps spreading.
Workplace immigration sweeps were common during Trump’s first term but were later halted under President Biden, who said such raids were being misused by employers to silence workers. Now, under Trump’s second term, these operations have returned—harder than ever. ICE has already raided construction sites in Pennsylvania and Texas, a flood control project in New Orleans, and meat plants in Nebraska. In vacation spots like Martha’s Vineyard, 40 migrants were arrested just last month.
When CNN asked ICE how many raids have occurred recently, the agency did not respond but confirmed operations are expanding. White House border czar Tom Homan promised, “Worksite enforcement operations are going to massively expand.”
The consequences for small businesses have been immediate. In Omaha, Nebraska, after ICE removed dozens of workers from a meat production plant, it was left operating at just 30% capacity. The restaurant industry, which employs over one million undocumented workers, is also at risk of collapse if staffing shortages continue.
Even familiar places like Home Depot have become flashpoints in the immigration debate. Day labourers often wait outside for work, but now they risk arrest. A recent sweep outside a Home Depot in Los Angeles led to mass protests and even National Guard deployment by Trump, overriding California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Despite the company denying involvement in immigration operations, Home Depot has become a recurring site of ICE activity. Back in April, 10 undocumented workers were detained at one of its California locations, triggering protests by labour advocates.
As the raids intensify, so does the fear—yet for many migrant workers, staying home is not a choice. They continue to face a cruel reality: risking arrest for the chance to earn a living.