Know this Now: Immigration Policy Shifts for Employers

Know a business leader who cares about smart immigration solutions? Share this update and invite them to join ABIC for exclusive insights.

Immigration News Briefing:

Deportation efforts escalated this week, with the Trump administration reporting expanded ICE raids targeting undocumented immigrants.
Individuals with and without criminal backgrounds are being detained. While ICE has stated that it prioritizes people with criminal records, reports confirm that immigrants without criminal histories are also being arrested.
On one day, for example, ICE reported detaining 613 individuals with criminal histories and 566 individuals without criminal histories, reported the Wall Street Journal. Additional reports showed that ICE detained Puerto Ricans (U.S. citizens), an American veteran and a Navajo Nation member.
In less than two weeks in office, President Trump has issued sweeping immigration executive orders, including ending legal work permit programs via Temporary Protected Status for 600,000 Venezuelan migrants, 120,000 Ukrainian and Afghan migrants, freezing refugee resettlement, suspending refugee admission and shutting down the CBP One App.
Last night, the Trump administration shared its plans to revoke around 500,000 legal work permits by ending the CHNV (Humanitarian Parole) program, which could have significant implications for employers and migrant workers in the U.S. who were granted temporary legal status under the Biden administration.
Concern about economic and inflation impacts of immigration enforcement is growing, from farmers, restaurant owners, and healthcare providers in part thanks to ABIC business leaders.
ABIC launched our “Secure our border, Secure our Workforce” National Campaign calling on President Trump and Congress to fix our broken immigration system and provide legal pathways for essential workers. The press conference was widely attended by national outlets, including the New York Times, Associated Press, Bloomberg and Axios. Thanks to our business leaders who participated in the conference:

- Matt Teagarden, CEO, Kansas Livestock Association
- Marc Schulman, President, Eli’s Cheesecake, Chicago
- Adam Lampert, CEO, Cambridge Caregivers / Manchester Care Homes
- Monica Villalobos, President & CEO, Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Tony DiMare, President, DiMare Homestead

Get Involved

1. If you can do one thing this week: Join one of ABIC’s Councils of 100 and let your voice be heard with your peers – sign up here. The Council of 100 is a coalition of top business leaders working to advance common-sense workforce solutions.
  Make sure to let us know if you can join ABIC March 24-27 in Washington, D.C., to give business leaders a voice on Capitol Hill.
2. Calling all hospitality employers: Join us on Feb. 5 at 11 a.m. EST for Webinar “Hospitality Employer Rights and Responsibilities.”
  Convened by ABIC, the Independent Restaurant Coalition, EatDenver, the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association, the Illinois Restaurant Association and the Asian American Hotel Owners’ Association, we’ll provide guidance and best practices to ensure compliance with existing regulations while protecting operations and employees.
  Register here.
3. Comité de 100 webinar for all sectors – Employer Rights & Responsibilities/Derechos y Responsabilidades del Empleador on Feb. 6 at 11:30 a.m. EST for training designed to help businesses stay compliant with immigration regulations and protect their employees. Register here / Regístrese aquí

In Their Own Words

Key quotes from newsmakers on immigration policy this week:

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked how many of the immigrants arrested have a criminal record versus how many are simply in the country illegally (1/28/25):

ABIC Member, business leader and farmer, Shay Myers, CEO Owyhee Produce, offers a stern warning about the disruption mass deportations could have on our economy. See his video here.