Key Takeaways
• California Republicans urge ICE to target violent criminals, not ordinary workers, starting July 1, 2025.
• ICE raids in June arrested 722 in Los Angeles; 69% without criminal convictions.
• Lawmakers call to expand H-2A and H-2B visa programs for temporary legal workers.
As of July 1, 2025, California Republicans have taken a clear public stance, urging President Trump to direct ICE raids toward violent criminals instead of conducting broad sweeps that impact ordinary workers. This call comes at a time when immigration enforcement has sharply increased under the Trump administration, sparking debate and concern among political leaders, business owners, and immigrant communities across California.
California Republicans Push for Targeted ICE Raids
On June 30, 2025, six California Republican legislators, led by State Senator Suzette Valladares (R-Santa Clarita), sent a formal letter to President Trump. In their message, they asked the administration to focus ICE enforcement on violent criminals and avoid broad workplace raids that have led to the arrest of many non-criminal migrants. The lawmakers warned that these tactics are hurting California’s economy and communities, especially in key industries like agriculture, construction, hospitality, and food processing.
Their letter also called for changes to the H-2A and H-2B visa programs, which allow foreign workers to fill temporary jobs in agriculture and other sectors. The lawmakers want these programs expanded and made easier to use, so businesses can hire legal guest workers and avoid labor shortages.
Intensified ICE Raids and Their Impact
In recent weeks, ICE raids in California have become more frequent and far-reaching. From June 1 to June 10, 2025, 722 people were arrested in the Los Angeles region alone. According to a Times analysis, 69% of those arrested had no criminal conviction, and 58% had never even been charged with a crime. Many of these raids took place in open-air locations such as car washes, Home Depot parking lots, and street-vending spots.
Between June 6 and June 22, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that over 1,600 immigrants were detained for deportation in Southern California. However, DHS did not specify how many of those detained had criminal records.
The Trump administration briefly paused workplace raids at farms, hotels, and restaurants earlier in 2025. But on June 17, the administration reversed this pause, saying that enforcement needed to continue in these industries to prevent them from harboring violent criminals and to protect economic stability.
Who Is Affected by the Raids?
The effects of these ICE raids reach far beyond undocumented immigrants. Many workers with legal status, as well as business owners and local communities, are feeling the impact.
- Workers: Both undocumented and legally present workers are experiencing fear and uncertainty. Many are afraid to go to work or even leave their homes, worried they might be caught up in a raid.
- Employers: Businesses in agriculture, hospitality, and construction are struggling to find enough workers. The fear caused by ICE raids is driving employees away, making it even harder to fill open positions.
- Communities: Families are being separated, and local economies are suffering as workers disappear from jobs and neighborhoods.
The Numbers Behind the Enforcement
The scale of ICE enforcement has grown quickly in 2025. Over the first five months of the year, ICE arrested more than 95,000 people nationwide. At the start of the year, 44% of those arrested had criminal convictions, 34% had pending charges, and 23% had no criminal history. But since late May, the share of non-criminal arrests has risen to 44%, while arrests of people with criminal convictions have dropped to 30%.
This shift means that more people with no criminal background are being swept up in ICE raids. Many of these individuals have lived and worked in the United States 🇺🇸 for years, contributing to their communities and supporting their families.
How ICE Raids Are Conducted
To understand the current situation, it helps to look at how ICE raids are carried out:
- Target Identification: ICE identifies workplaces or public locations where they suspect undocumented workers may be present.
- Enforcement Operations: Agents conduct raids at farms, restaurants, hotels, construction sites, and open-air spaces like parking lots and street corners.
- Arrest and Detention: Individuals are questioned about their immigration status. If they cannot show legal status, they are detained. Increasingly, people with no criminal records are being arrested.
- Expedited Removal: Many of those arrested are placed in expedited removal proceedings. This means they can be deported quickly, often without a chance to argue their case in court.
- Data Collection: ICE keeps records of arrests but often does not make it clear how many of those arrested have criminal backgrounds.
Political and Legal Pushback
The increase in ICE raids has sparked strong reactions from many sides. California Republicans are not alone in their concerns. Local governments, including members of the Los Angeles City Council and County Board of Supervisors, are exploring legal ways to stop what they see as unconstitutional raids based on racial profiling.
Civil rights groups argue that the raids are leading to discrimination and violations of due process. They are urging legal challenges and calling for more oversight of ICE operations.
At the same time, President Trump has stated that he wants to protect farmers and business owners from losing reliable workers. However, his administration’s actions have often included broad enforcement that sweeps up many non-criminal migrants.
Business and Labor Market Effects
California’s economy depends heavily on immigrant workers, especially in agriculture, hospitality, and construction. Employers in these industries report severe labor shortages, with many jobs going unfilled because workers are afraid of being arrested.
Industry groups warn that losing experienced workers is hurting productivity and could lead to higher prices for consumers. Some businesses are even considering moving operations out of California or shutting down altogether if they cannot find enough workers.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the ongoing ICE raids are making it harder for California businesses to stay afloat, especially in sectors that rely on seasonal or low-wage labor.
Public Opinion and Political Divides
A June 2025 survey by the Pew Research Center found that 54% of Americans disapprove of increased ICE workplace raids. Support and opposition are sharply divided along party lines, with 78% of Republicans approving of the raids and 81% of Democrats disapproving.
This split reflects the larger national debate over immigration enforcement. While some see strict enforcement as necessary for public safety and rule of law, others argue that it is harming families, communities, and the economy.
Calls for Visa Program Reform
One of the main solutions proposed by California Republicans is to expand and streamline the H-2A and H-2B visa programs. These programs allow employers to hire foreign workers for temporary jobs in agriculture (H-2A) and other industries (H-2B).
Currently, the process for getting these visas is slow and complicated, making it hard for businesses to fill open positions legally. Lawmakers are asking President Trump to make it easier for employers to use these programs, which could help reduce the need for undocumented workers and lessen the impact of ICE raids.
For more information about these visa programs, readers can visit the official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) H-2A Temporary Agricultural Workers page.
Legal Challenges and Constitutional Questions
As ICE raids continue, legal experts and advocacy groups are raising questions about the constitutionality of some enforcement tactics. Concerns include:
- Racial Profiling: Some raids appear to target people based on their appearance or language, rather than specific evidence of illegal activity.
- Due Process: Many people arrested in raids are placed in expedited removal proceedings, which limit their ability to challenge deportation in court.
- Local Authority: Cities and counties are exploring whether they can limit cooperation with ICE or challenge federal enforcement in court.
Ongoing and expected lawsuits may shape how ICE can operate in California and other states in the future.
Historical Context: How We Got Here
The current situation is the result of several policy changes over the past year:
- Early 2025: The Trump administration ended protections put in place during President Biden’s term, shifting to a policy of mass deportations and increased interior enforcement.
- Spring 2025: There was a brief pause on workplace raids in critical industries, but this was quickly reversed after pressure from hardline advisors and public statements by President Trump.
- June–July 2025: Enforcement has intensified, with a notable increase in non-criminal arrests and growing backlash from both Democratic and Republican officials in states like California.
What’s Next? Future Outlook
Looking ahead, several possible changes could affect how ICE raids are carried out in California and across the United States 🇺🇸:
- Policy Adjustments: President Trump has hinted that new executive orders may be coming to address concerns from business owners and lawmakers. These changes could focus enforcement more narrowly on criminal offenders.
- Visa Program Reform: There is interest from both parties in Congress to expand legal guest worker programs, but no new laws have been passed yet.
- Legal Challenges: Lawsuits challenging the scope and legality of ICE enforcement tactics are ongoing. The outcomes could limit or change how raids are conducted, especially in workplaces and public spaces.
Practical Guidance for Affected Individuals and Employers
If you are a worker or employer in California, here are some steps you can take:
- Know Your Rights: Workers, regardless of immigration status, have certain rights during ICE raids. For example, you have the right to remain silent and to ask for a lawyer.
- Stay Informed: Employers should keep up to date with changes in immigration policy and enforcement. The ICE official website provides the latest information on enforcement actions and policy updates.
- Legal Assistance: If you or someone you know is detained in a raid, seek legal help as soon as possible. Many community organizations offer free or low-cost legal services.
- Prepare Documentation: Employers should make sure all employment records are in order and that workers know what to do if ICE visits the workplace.
Stakeholder Perspectives: What Experts and Leaders Are Saying
- Immigration Experts: Analysts say the shift toward more interior enforcement and non-criminal arrests is partly due to fewer people being caught at the border and political pressure to increase deportation numbers.
- Business Leaders: Many warn that losing experienced workers is hurting productivity and could lead to higher prices and fewer services for consumers.
- Advocacy Groups: Civil rights organizations argue that the raids are leading to racial profiling and violations of due process, and are urging legal challenges to protect affected individuals.
Conclusion: A State at a Crossroads
California Republicans have made it clear that they want ICE raids to focus on violent criminals, not ordinary workers who are vital to the state’s economy. Despite these calls, the Trump administration has continued broad enforcement actions, leading to increased arrests of non-criminal migrants, labor shortages, and mounting political and legal challenges.
The debate over immigration enforcement in California is far from settled. As the situation evolves, the choices made by President Trump, California Republicans, business leaders, and community advocates will shape the future for millions of workers, families, and employers across the state.
For those affected, staying informed and prepared is more important than ever. Whether through policy changes, legal action, or community support, the fight over how ICE raids are conducted—and who they target—will continue to be a defining issue for California and the nation in the months ahead.
Learn Today
ICE → Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. agency enforcing immigration laws within the country.
H-2A Visa → Temporary visa allowing foreign agricultural workers to fill seasonal farm jobs legally.
Expedited Removal → A fast-track deportation process limiting detainees’ ability to challenge their removal in court.
DHS → Department of Homeland Security, federal agency overseeing immigration enforcement and national security.
Racial Profiling → Law enforcement targeting individuals based on race or ethnicity rather than evidence of wrongdoing.
This Article in a Nutshell
California Republicans demand ICE focus raids on violent criminals, not workers, citing labor shortages and economic damage. June arrests show many detainees lack criminal records. They seek visa reforms to ease employment of legal guest workers and reduce undocumented arrests disrupting crucial industries like agriculture and hospitality.
— By VisaVerge.com
