Following excellent news that illegal immigration is at a 45-year low, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement began a new crackdown on illegal immigration. On Wednesday, January 10, ICE agents showed up at dozens of 7-11 stores nationwide to interview employees and deliver audit notifications. The agency claims this was the largest employer-targeted operation since Trump took office.
ICE officials said their agents visited nearly 100 stores and made 21 arrests, calling this a “warning” to other companies that employ illegal workers. ICE Director Thomas Homan said in a statement: “Today’s actions send a strong message to U.S. businesses that hire and employ an illegal workforce: ICE will enforce the law, and if you are found to be breaking the law, you will be held accountable.”
This appears to be a new front in the Trump administration’s illegal immigration crackdown. ICE agents have made 40 percent more arrests in the past year and illegal border crossings have slowed to the lowest in decades. President Trump ran much of his campaign on the promise to fix our broken immigration system and preserve law and order. Conservatives have said for many years that much of our illegal immigration problem could easily be solved by simply following the laws already in place! We are seeing just that.
Prosecuting employers who hire illegal workers is often a daunting task. Business owners often insist employees lied and used fake information. Many supporters of immigration enforcement have pushed for systems like E-Verify, where employers can more easily check I-9 forms and Social Security numbers. Phyllis Schlafly supported efforts like these, as their implementation met great success in states like Arizona.
“Businesses that hire illegal workers are a pull factor for illegal immigration,” ICE director Homan continued. “And we are working hard to remove this magnet. ICE will continue its efforts to protect jobs for American workers by eliminating unfair competitive advantages for companies that exploit illegal immigration.”
