See one weekend how Los Angeles’ protests intensified
What began as a small protest against Friday’s immigration attacks has swelled into large demonstrations throughout the weekend. This is what happened.
From gas stations in Phoenix to construction sites in Tallahassee, the cross-country workplace raids are wary of businesses who suddenly find themselves at the intersection of Trump administration’s immigrant crackdown.
Farm workers were hiding in fields from federal immigration agents in California. Dozens of people were bused when immigrants and customs enforcement raided Omaha’s meat processing plants. In Los Angeles, sudden workers from Home Depot parking and car washes and workers in the garment industry sparked protests that spread across cities across the country.
The administration’s push to detain a record number of undocumented immigrants has sparked a “all-new wave of panic.”
The sudden rise in immigration enforcement activities is usually the departure of federal authorities who avoid chasing businesses.
Now, employers are worried that an escalating enforcement campaign not only crippling the business, but could lead to civil and criminal exposure even when they have a tough employment process, Thomas said.
Tensions are rising, especially in construction, hospitality and food processing, but he hopes that immigration crackdowns will soon rattle businesses in other industries.
Already, large public companies have warned investors that immigration crackdowns could affect companies that rely on the migrant workforce.
Meatpacker Smithfield warned in his March securities application: “Increasing governmental authorities’ enforcement efforts regarding existing immigration laws can disrupt our workforce or part of our business. There is no guarantee that these activities or results will not adversely affect future business, financial position, or outcomes of our operations.”
“We’ve never seen anything like this,” Thomas said. “They’re just starting out and there’s more to come. So far, we’ve seen attacks on a small scale. But they’re now moving to the next stage of holding large-scale workplace enforcement operations at large companies.”
President Donald Trump has taken office on a pledge to crack down on illegal immigration. It is estimated that more than 8 million undocumented immigrants work in the United States.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller told Fox News’ Sean Hannity in May that Ice’s target was to arrest 3,000 people a day. “And President Trump is trying to keep pushing that number higher every day,” Miller said.
White House border emperor Tom Homan warned this week that “workplace enforcement operations will expand significantly.”
In a Truth Social Post Thursday, Trump acknowledged that crackdowns hurt American employers. “Our great farmers and people in hotel and leisure business have stated that very aggressive policies on immigration have kept the very good long-time workers away from them, and that it is almost impossible to trade those jobs,” Trump wrote.
At the White House, he told reporters he would issue an order to address the workers shortage brought about by the attacks on farm and hotel workers.
Shannon Stevenson, a partner who co-chairs national immigration practices at the Fisher & Phillips law firm, said the president’s words were not reassuring to employers.
Calls from worried clients have increased by 75% since last week.
“Employers have to respond to the reality they see. This is a huge increase in workplace enforcement,” Stevenson said. “I’ve heard comments that certain industries will not be targeted when employers in these industries are facing raids, and yesterday it’s a bit difficult to swallow.”
The explosion of immigration enforcement exacerbates staffing issues for businesses that are already facing a shortage of workers, making businesses collateral losses.
“There are employers who can’t open their businesses because workers aren’t appearing. Restaurants with multiple locations don’t need to consolidate certain locations due to a shortage of workers or close early or lunch shifts,” Peck said. “I have a manufacturer that’s gone from three shifts to two because of a shortage of workers. That’s really putting pressure on employers.”
In Idaho, businesses that are already short have lost more employees who are afraid to go out to work, said Alicia Moss, chairman of the Immigration Practice Group at the Law Firm of Holy Troxel Ennis & Holy Law. Hispanic and Latino businesses were particularly tough, Moss said.
“Most of the businesses I support and talk about couldn’t find enough workers before this increase. Some now say they may need to shrink or close.