On October 12, 2021, Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of the Department of Homeland Security issued a memo put an end to the practice of widespread worksite raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). These New York work-site raids have generated anxiety and fear among many workers in our area. By ending this policy and putting the focus back on employers instead of workers, President Biden and the current administration have significantly reduced the stress and worry associated with employment for many immigrants in our area.
New York Work-site Raids Ramped Up Under Trump
During the Trump administration, national and New York work-site raids led to the arrests and detentions of hundreds of workers. In most cases, the employers who were responsible for hiring these individuals were let go with a slap on the wrist or no legal action against their companies. President Joe Biden and the current administration, however, have indicated that they intend to focus their efforts on employers rather than workers. This will eliminate the large-scale New York work-site raids that have threatened immigrants, especially those workers who have protested exploitative or abusive conditions of employment.
Immigrants Are at Especially High Risk
Because undocumented immigrants are vulnerable to action by ICE and other immigration authorities, they are often seen as easy prey by unscrupulous employers. In some cases, these workers have been asked to perform their duties in unsafe areas or for illegally low wages. The Trump-era New York work-site raids were sometimes used as threats by these employers to keep their undocumented staff members in line. By threatening to call ICE to perform a large-scale raid on the worksite, the company could suppress efforts by workers to make sure that their employers followed all applicable labor laws.
While other workers may also have been exploited or asked to work in unsafe conditions, undocumented immigrants are much less likely to seek help from federal, state or local regulators when their rights are violated. By eliminating the New York work-site raids as tools that could be used to keep employees in line, the Department of Homeland Security and the Biden administration have taken a significant step forward to protect the rights of all workers.
Seeking Help From a New York Immigration Attorney
For immigrants who wish to correct their legal status and to avoid issues with ICE and other federal immigration authorities, working with a New York immigration attorney is typically the best first step toward achieving legal permanent residency and the right to live and work legally in the United States. Your New York immigration attorney will look at the specifics of your case and will provide you with practical help and support in navigating the immigration process successfully.
If you need the assistance of a qualified New York immigration attorney, Pozo Goldstein offers legal services for immigrants in our area. Our team includes two former immigration prosecutors as well as a former judge. This allows us to draw on the deepest possible reserve of knowledge of the immigration process for you. Give us a call today at 212-201-9031 to schedule an initial case evaluation. We look forward to the chance to help you to achieve and to protect your American dream.
