No Evidence ICE Targets Citizenship Offices; Focus on Workplace Raids

(ELLABELL, GEORGIA) On September 4, 2025, an ICE worksite raid at a Hyundai battery plant construction site in Ellabell, Georgia sent a chill far beyond one job site, rippling through immigrant communities nationwide. Agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, commonly known as ICE, moved in on the sprawling construction area, detaining workers they believed to be undocumented. The sudden operation, at a major industrial project in rural Georgia, underscored how worksite enforcement has become a central tool in the agency’s broader push against people it suspects lack legal immigration status.

A pattern of worksite enforcement

Witnesses and advocates say the Ellabell operation fits into a wider pattern. Recent reports describe large-scale raids and sweeps at workplaces and in neighborhoods with high immigrant populations, rather than only at border areas or detention centers.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, community groups across the country are warning that these tactics make many immigrants afraid to go to work, visit public spaces, or interact with authorities, even when they have legal status. The Ellabell raid, they argue, is a clear example of this climate of fear in action.

Local impact and community fear

In this Georgia case, ICE focused on a single worksite, but advocates say the message felt much larger. Construction jobs like those at the battery plant draw a workforce that often includes recent arrivals and mixed-status families. When word spread that people had been arrested at the Ellabell site, workers in other industries in the region began to worry that their own factories, farms, or warehouses could be next.

For undocumented workers, the fear is obvious: arrest, detention, and possible removal from the United States. But even lawful permanent residents and U.S. citizens say they now feel under suspicion.

Reports from outlets including ProPublica and OPB, cited in recent advocacy materials, describe ICE operations in which Latino workers and communities appear to be singled out. In some incidents, U.S. citizens and people with valid papers were detained because agents assumed they were undocumented. That history weighs heavily on families in and around Ellabell, Georgia, where many residents worry that their appearance, accent, or neighborhood might draw attention, regardless of their documents. The result, advocacy groups say, is that entire communities pull back from daily life.

Rumors about USCIS offices — what evidence shows

Against that backdrop, rumors have spread quickly about where ICE might appear next. One frequent claim, repeated on social media and in community meetings, is that ICE has started targeting “out of status” immigrants at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) buildings. People fear that going to a USCIS office to file paperwork, ask a question, or attend a naturalization interview could expose them to arrest.

• As of November 2025, however, there is no evidence that ICE is conducting raids or focused operations inside USCIS citizenship offices or application centers.
• Advocacy organizations monitoring enforcement patterns say such an operation would be highly unusual and would almost certainly generate major national media coverage.

Current reporting shows ICE activity concentrated in places like the Ellabell worksite raid, neighborhood sweeps, and other public or semi-public locations. These actions can happen at homes, on the street, or outside businesses and schools, but there are no credible reports of ICE turning USCIS offices into enforcement traps. Immigration lawyers stress that this distinction matters. While no place feels completely safe to many immigrants right now, they note that citizenship offices have not become regular targets in the way workplaces and some community spaces have.

Tactics that increase fear

At the same time, ICE has a long record of using what the agency calls “ruses” to approach people. Agents sometimes misrepresent who they are or why they are at a door to get someone to speak with them or allow entry to a home. Advocacy groups say this makes it harder for immigrants to feel secure even when they think they are dealing with non-enforcement parts of the government.

Still, there is no indication so far that these deceptive tactics are being used inside or around USCIS citizenship offices. The main concern remains operations like the Ellabell worksite raid, which show how suddenly agents can arrive at a job site or neighborhood.

“It’s important to know your rights and be prepared for encounters with immigration agents, regardless of the location.”
— Guidance cited in multiple know-your-rights sessions

Know-your-rights guidance and practical advice

Community organizations are focused on rights education rather than promises of safety in any one location. They remind people that, regardless of status, everyone in the United States has constitutional protections, including:

• The right to remain silent
• The right to refuse entry to ICE agents who do not have a judicial warrant signed by a judge

Advocates often repeat the same simple message:
– You can say, “I choose to remain silent.”
– You can ask to see a warrant before opening the door.

One widely shared guidance document, quoted in multiple sessions, tells immigrants: “It’s important to know your rights and be prepared for encounters with immigration agents, regardless of the location.”

For U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents

Lawyers recommend carrying proof of status whenever possible. While this is not a legal requirement, it can help resolve mistaken detentions quickly in fast-moving operations like worksite raids.

• Helpful documents to carry: U.S. passport, green card, or work authorization
• Note: Even with proof, many who have been wrongly detained say the experience left lasting emotional scars

Official framework and where to find reliable information

The official policy framework that guides ICE enforcement remains complex, and public details are limited. The agency says it focuses on people who pose security threats or have serious criminal records, but the Ellabell worksite raid and similar operations show that many people arrested are simply accused of lacking valid immigration status.

For those seeking reliable government information about immigration processes, lawyers often point to the USCIS website, which:
– Explains how to apply for benefits such as work permits and citizenship
– Clarifies that USCIS itself does not carry out enforcement actions like ICE

What advocates are doing now

Advocates in Georgia and beyond say their work will continue on two tracks:

1. Pushing back against what they see as overly aggressive enforcement.
2. Helping immigrants prepare for possible encounters with ICE in everyday settings.

They urge anyone worried about reports of raids—whether at workplaces like Ellabell, in neighborhoods, or near civic buildings—to:

• Stay in close touch with trusted local immigrant rights groups or legal aid providers
• Rely on those groups for real-time tracking of ICE activity and the most up-to-date information
• Avoid relying solely on rumors, which can fuel unnecessary fear

Key takeaways

• The Ellabell, Georgia raid on September 4, 2025 reflects a wider pattern of worksite enforcement.
• There is no credible evidence that ICE is conducting raids inside USCIS offices as of November 2025.
• Know-your-rights education remains critical: remain silent, ask to see a judicial warrant, and seek trusted legal guidance.
• For accurate government information, consult the USCIS website.