On January 28, ICE agents in Philadelphia arrested seven undocumented immigrants during a worksite raid at a local car wash.
Since January 20, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested more than 1,000 undocumented workers lacking employment authorization. This large-scale effort, led by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), targets both unauthorized workers and the businesses that employ them.
Alongside the arrests, HSI subpoenaed records from roughly 1,200 businesses and proposed nearly $1 million in employer fines. HSI Acting Director Robert Hammer confirmed this is the agency’s highest arrest rate on record.
“This is the highest rate of arrests in HSI’s history,” said Hammer. “We’ve subpoenaed the business records of about 1,200 companies, and as part of our review, we’ve proposed close to $1 million in fines.”
These operations align with President Donald J. Trump’s executive order, “Protecting the American People Against Invasion,” which mandates strict enforcement of federal immigration laws, including the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Hammer emphasized that employers who exploit undocumented labor damage the American workforce. ICE is now pursuing a dual approach—arresting undocumented workers and holding businesses legally accountable.
In the past two months, ICE has carried out sweeping raids nationwide, targeting industries suspected of employment law violations.
In Ohio, ICE partnered with the IRS Criminal Investigation Division in an operation targeting a Chinese money laundering group allegedly running a staffing agency that supplied undocumented workers to a factory. On April 2, 2025, ICE filed a civil complaint that resulted in the seizure of 14 properties, seven bank accounts, and 15 vehicles.
Other significant actions include:
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A Louisiana raid that resulted in 11 arrests
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A Pennsylvania operation with four detentions
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A New Jersey sweep that placed 16 undocumented individuals in custody
HSI continues to stress employer accountability. The nearly $1 million in proposed fines came from extensive business record reviews. Knowingly hiring undocumented workers remains a federal crime, and ICE intends to prosecute those who do.
To help employers stay compliant, ICE promotes its IMAGE program. This initiative offers training on anti-discrimination practices, identifying fake documents, and preventing labor abuses, including forced and child labor. By joining IMAGE, companies can strengthen hiring practices and stay legally compliant.
Legal experts are urging businesses to double-check their Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) processes. Fines for violations can now reach up to $2,861 per infraction.
Immigration Attorney Keshab Raj Seadie advised employers to maintain precise and updated I-9 paperwork.
“With the increased penalties, even minor errors or oversights in I-9 compliance can lead to substantial fines,” Seadie warned. “Employers must take proactive steps to review their processes and avoid costly violations.”
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently raised civil fines for I-9 violations, effective for assessments made after January 2, 2025. These updated fines apply to violations occurring after November 2, 2015, following the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act and guidelines from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Under the new rule, I-9 paperwork penalties now range from $288 to $2,861 per violation, up from the previous $281 to $2,789 range.
Federal law requires all U.S. employers to complete and maintain Form I-9 to verify employees’ identity and legal work status. Employees must present valid documentation proving both.
During Trump’s first term, enforcement efforts surged. Between fiscal years 2017 and 2019, I-9 audits increased over fourfold, and courts imposed over $121 million in fines, forfeitures, and restitution.
