Biden Plans to End Immigration Workplace Raids

President Biden plans to end worksite immigration raids by focusing more on employers who exploit the services of illegal immigrants. Alejandro Mayorkas, the Secretary of Homeland Security, later confirmed in an official statement last week.

Biden’s urge to change Trump administration immigration policies has not been taken lightly. His actions have been met with frequent and prolonged debates among politicians. Many are in favor of paying closer attention to employers and non-immigrants with criminal convictions. Others believe more attention should be paid solely to all undocumented workers, as it promotes fair workplace enforcement.

A workplace raid is when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents visit a corporation, organization, or facility without warning. Their mission is to detain non-citizens who they believe are living in the U.S. illegally. Depending on the circumstances, they might target a specific group or every employee, requiring immediate help from an employment visa attorney. Raids are described as a nerve-wracking experience for both employers and undocumented workers alike.

It has always been commonplace for ICE to audit and hold employers accountable for labor trafficking and unlawful working conditions. During the Bush and Obama era, raids targeted one demographic instead of hurting all undocumented workers’ chance of a possible future in America. As ICE shifts the method behind its operation, people can expect drastic changes in practice and policy against employers who violate immigration laws.

Fortunately, California laws prohibit anyone from allowing ICE agents consent to enter private workspaces without a warrant. The policy was established on January 1, 2018, and is still enforced. The law also grants employers the ability to alert employees of federal inspections.

To limit the risk of deportation, make sure to reach out to an immigration lawyer as soon as possible! Especially if you’re living in the U.S. without a visa. Although Biden is changing the process of workplace raids, remaining in the country unlawfully is still grounds for inadmissibility of up to ten years.