Todd Lyons, the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), stated in a recent interview that the agency will increase its efforts to crack down on U.S. companies employing undocumented workers. Speaking on CBS’s Face the Nation, Lyons emphasized that the focus is not only on individuals working illegally but also on the businesses that exploit them.
“These workers often come to the U.S. seeking a better life but end up being victims of forced labor or even child trafficking,” said Lyons. He explained that worksite investigations are far from victimless and that ICE is now executing criminal warrants against companies that take advantage of vulnerable laborers for profit.
The Trump administration has intensified its immigration enforcement during the early months of President Trump’s second term, a move that has been met with strong criticism. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass voiced concern over ICE agents wearing masks to protect their identities, arguing that it lacks transparency and undermines trust, especially when compared to local police who operate openly.
Bass questioned how ICE agents, many of whom aren’t even from the areas they operate in, could claim fear of retaliation against their families, and pointed out that the LAPD officers always show identification and provide business cards. She found the administration’s justification for masked agents unconvincing and unnecessary.
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