Mika Demands Data: Border Czar Must Share Reports on Immigration Raids

(UNITED STATES) After months of stepped-up immigration raids by ICE, the second Trump administration’s enforcement strategy has reshaped daily life for immigrant families and employers across the United States. Since late January 2025, federal agents have carried out operations in places that were previously largely off-limits, including schools, hospitals, and places of worship. CNN reported on August 28, 2025, that ICE had deported nearly 200,000 people since President Trump returned to office, with the administration claiming 140,000 deportations by April. The White House argues the crackdown is restoring order; critics say it has gone too far and caused widespread fear.

What the numbers show

The figures represent a break from recent practice and illustrate dramatic shifts in enforcement and border activity.

• The administration’s tally shows 37,660 people were deported in the first month of the new term alone.
• Monthly deportations under President Trump have at times been below the 2024 average under President Biden (57,000 per month).
• Government “encounter” data indicate Southwest arrivals have stayed under 15,000 per month since February 2025, down sharply from the more than 300,000 peak in December 2023.

Officials attribute the decline in crossings to tougher enforcement, including increased detention and faster deportations. Supporters describe a chain reaction—more raids, faster removals, fewer border attempts—while critics point to a different chain reaction: families split apart, American-born children left in limbo, and regional economies (especially agriculture and hospitality) hit by staffing gaps.

Policy shifts and enforcement scope

Policy reversals and operational changes have been rapid and wide-ranging.

• A short pause on worksite operations was lifted.
• Border Czar Tom Homan confirmed in June 2025 that raids would continue in agriculture and hospitality.
  • He stated ICE would focus on people with criminal records but acknowledged all undocumented workers remain subject to enforcement.
• The administration authorized operations in locations previously treated as “sensitive” and attempted to speed removals using emergency authorities (including the Alien Enemies Act), though courts have blocked some measures.

The new pace and scope of operations represent a major shift that both supporters and critics acknowledge.

Effects on employers and local economies

Employers in farming, construction, hotels, and restaurants report acute labor shortages tied to worksite enforcement.

• Managers describe:
  • Workweeks disrupted by call-outs on raid days
  • Crops left unpicked when crews are short
  • Hotel rooms taken offline because housekeeping teams are too thin
• Officials concede enforcement removes workers who are “almost impossible to replace,” but urge employers to use legal hiring options.
• Business owners argue hiring pipelines cannot meet the sudden demand created by mass removals.

Practical industry impacts include delayed deliveries, shortened hours, closed floors, wasted acreage, and increased costs or service declines.

Public opinion and political context

Public attitudes are mixed and complex.

• Polling (June 2025):
  • 42% approval and 47% disapproval for President Trump’s approach
  • 53% expect the policies to cost taxpayers money
  • 46% believe the changes will weaken the economy
  • 56% support expanding the border wall (up from 46% in 2019)
• Most Americans—across parties—say deportations have increased while asylum-seeking has fallen.

This split reflects a tension: many want firmer borders and faster decisions, yet worry about fairness, cost, and harm to local communities. These views will likely shape campaign messages and court filings.

Legal battles and courts’ role

Immigration courts and federal judges have become critical arbiters.

• Legal challenges target tactics such as:
  • Use of expedited removal with reduced access to lawyers
  • Applying wartime-style authority (Alien Enemies Act) to speed removals
• Courts have blocked certain actions—especially those involving military participation or operations in designated sensitive zones.
• The legal process has not stopped day-to-day enforcement but has slowed or reshaped some policies, forcing DHS and ICE to defend methods and timelines.

Community impacts and human consequences

Raids in previously protected areas have rattled families and eroded trust with local institutions.

• Reported community effects:
  • Teachers see attendance drops on rumored raid days
  • Hospital staff report patients delaying care for fear of arrest
  • Faith leaders say parishioners skip services after seeing ICE nearby
• Legal aid groups recount cases where U.S. citizens were mistakenly detained or swept into processing, raising due process concerns.

Families and advocates describe fast-moving post-arrest procedures and difficult choices:

• ICE can use expedited removal to limit access to counsel and speed travel documents and flights.
• People often must choose to sign stipulated removals, request fear screenings, or pursue relief claims.
• Advocates recommend keeping key documents ready, memorizing emergency numbers, and planning childcare contingencies.

Worksite enforcement details

Worksite raids now reach into farm fields and behind hotel loading docks.

• VisaVerge.com analysis reports:
  • Revived focus on workplace checks and coordinated takedowns
  • Employers reviewing hiring records and training managers on responding to agents
• Inspection outcomes:
  • Some audits lead to fines
  • Full-scale raids can remove large parts of a shift in one morning

Ripple effects include delayed supply chains, compressed harvest windows, shorter restaurant hours, and shifts to automated or reduced-service models.

Data transparency and accountability

Data availability has emerged as a major contention point.

• Lawmakers and journalists seek detailed breakdowns on:
  • Number and locations of raids
  • Arrest counts and criminal histories
  • Use of expedited processes and timelines to removal
• As of September 2025, the administration had not released complete public reports, creating disputes over accuracy and emphasis.
• Reporters note gaps between public claims and partial data; advocacy groups warn that without clear numbers policymakers and the public cannot properly weigh trade-offs.

Community responses and practical preparations

Local responses vary by region and sector.

• In farm towns: co-ops and church groups form rapid response teams to track arrests and connect families with lawyers.
• In cities: immigrant-serving nonprofits expand “know your rights” workshops (asks for warrants, remaining silent).
• Small businesses share information on audits and visits; large chains hire compliance consultants.
• City councils debate sanctuary policy reaffirmation, though sanctuary status no longer fully shields schools or clinics from federal operations.

Practical advice commonly shared by organizers and legal clinics:

1. Stay calm during encounters.
2. Ask to see a warrant.
3. Use the right to remain silent until speaking with a lawyer.
4. Create guardianship plans for children in mixed-status households.
5. Keep copies of IDs and medical records with trusted relatives.
6. Maintain organized copies of any prior immigration filings and proof of family ties.

Employer guidance and business adaptation

Employers face higher stakes around recordkeeping and hiring.

• Reported business adjustments:
  • Construction firms absorb delays and cost overruns
  • Growers warn of wasted acreage and compressed harvests
  • Hotels delay renovations to keep rooms operational
  • Restaurants test kiosks, limited menus, and counter service
• Some executives foresee a longer-term reshaping of business models if enforcement continues.

Supporters argue these adjustments align the labor market with the law and push employers toward investments in training and technology. Critics counter that the majority of those targeted are not community crime drivers and that sudden removals destabilize neighborhoods and local economies.

Oversight tools and FOIA access

For those seeking official records, formal channels exist.

• Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests provide a route to obtain data on raids, arrest locations, and deportations.
• The agency’s portal and instructions are available on the ICE FOIA page: https://www.ice.gov/foia.

While FOIA responses can be slow, they offer a mechanism for journalists, advocates, and families to verify claims and track trends.

Ongoing dynamics and the road ahead

The immediate future will likely include more legal contests and continued operations.

• The administration has signaled raids will continue and could expand as resources permit.
• Legal groups prepare new challenges to expedited removals and enforcement in sensitive spaces.
• Employers hedge investments and search for compliance pathways to stabilize staffing.
• Families, schools, and faith communities build support systems to address disruptions.

The single shared request across communities is for clear, timely data on how enforcement is carried out.

Final observations and key takeaways

• The summer headline—nearly 200,000 deportations by late August—serves as a focal point for both supporters and critics.
  • Supporters: evidence of law enforcement and deterrence.
  • Critics: symbol of human cost, economic disruption, and due process concerns.
• Without full transparency on raid locations, arrest demographics, criminal histories, and removal timelines, each side fills gaps with competing narratives.
• In the absence of new legislation (as of September 2025), the executive branch continues to use executive actions and guidance memos—tools vulnerable to rapid change through court rulings or political pressure.

Practical planning remains essential for families, workers, and employers:

• Keep immigration and identity documents organized and accessible.
• Maintain emergency contact lists and legal hotlines.
• Schools and employers should prepare backup guardianship and staffing plans.
• Legal clinics and community groups should continue outreach and “know your rights” programming.

The debate over interior enforcement, the reach of raids into sensitive places, and the balance between public safety and community harm will shape policy, courts, and campaigns in the months ahead. As autumn approaches, ICE’s next steps—and the data behind them—will be watched closely in every sector.