ICE Worksite Raids Target Vulnerable Workers and Undermine Labor Protections

The National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) condemns the raids conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and its law enforcement collaborators, which target vulnerable workers, suppress their voices, and deny access to the legal systems in place to protect them. These raids are a direct assault on fundamental human rights and do nothing to address the root causes of labor exploitation, silencing individuals who might otherwise report wage theft, discrimination, hazardous conditions, and even human trafficking.

By perpetuating a climate of intimidation, ICE’s actions enable abuse, erode access to labor and employment protections, and undermine due process. No worker—regardless of immigration status—should fear retaliation for demanding fair wages and safe working conditions. These raids harm not only the individuals they target but also the integrity of our labor system, creating an environment where abusive workplace conduct thrives unchecked and workers and their advocates are in danger of arrest, deportation, or other harms.

NELA calls for an end to these raids and urges enforcement efforts to focus on holding employers accountable for labor and employment law violations, rather than punishing the workers subjected to their employers’ greed. We stand resolute in our commitment to defend all workers, empower workers’ rights advocates, and safeguard protections to ensure workplaces remain free from intimidation and injustice.