As President Donald Trump enforces a crackdown on immigration, many employees have fears about what this will entail for the workforce. In a new survey, three in five workers said they were worried about workplace immigration raids, and companies may need to rethink their policies on these issues moving forward.
Why It Matters
Trump is set to sign an executive order Monday that would create a list of targeted sanctuary cities that are believed not to be complying with federal immigration laws.
The Trump administration has already deported 100,000 undocumented immigrants as of earlier in April, and Trump has also ramped up security at the United States-Mexico border.
What To Know
HR data company Brightmine’s new survey revealed significant concerns among employees about how Trump’s policies will extend into the workplace.
Three in five workers in the 2,000-person survey said they were worried about immigration raids, and only 26 percent of employees said they trust their employer to be completely transparent.
Younger workers tend to have more concerns over the possibility of workplace raids, the report found.
Of the surveyed group, 23 percent of Gen Z respondents and 19 percent of millennials were anxious about the possibility of workplace raids and were looking to their employer for clear guidance and support.
These policy changes could force HR leaders to make considerable changes to how they approach recruiting new talent.
Around 36 percent of U.S. workers said they are planning to or are considering leaving their jobs this year due to workplace policy changes. Of that group, 21 percent said they’d clarify a company’s stance on DEI during the job search.
A new survey from the Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found roughly half of Americans say Trump has “gone too far” when it comes to deporting immigrants living in the U.S. illegally.
Roughly one-third said Trump’s approach has been “about right,” and approximately 2 in 10 said he’s not gone far enough.
What People Are Saying
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday: “It’s quite simple—obey the law, respect the law, and don’t obstruct federal immigration officials and law enforcement officials when they are simply trying to remove public safety threats from our nation’s communities.”
Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek: “There has been heightened awareness of raids occurring throughout the United States, especially at places of work. This has caused some to forgo work altogether in fear of being arrested either during transport or at their place of employment, even if they are a legal migrant with a green card or H-1B visa status.”
HR consultant Bryan Driscoll told Newsweek: “Workers aren’t being paranoid—they’re reacting to reality. We’re 99 days into Trump’s second term, and we’ve already seen U.S. citizens wrongfully detained and illegally removed from the country. The line between ‘immigration enforcement’ and ‘civil rights violations’ is nonexistent. That sends a brutal message: if you even look out of place, your rights are negotiable.”
Michael Ryan, a finance expert and the founder of MichaelRyanMoney.com, told Newsweek: “What’s particularly interesting is how this ties to retention. The survey found people are ‘sheltering’ in their current jobs despite concerns. This creates a challenging dynamic where workers might feel trapped where they don’t fully trust leadership to be transparent about immigration issues.”
Avery Morgan, the chief human resources officer at EduBirdie, told Newsweek: “Companies should have a plan ready if immigration officials show up. Collaborate with legal counsel to create it. Choose who’ll be in charge during such visits and make a list with step-by-step instructions for responding to ICE agents.
“Employees need to feel safe discussing their concerns and accessing resources if needed. Whether those concerns are justified or not, companies must be prepared to respond accordingly.”
What Happens Next
While the Trump administration initially said it would only be targeting undocumented immigrants with a criminal history, the administration has appeared to shift its language to focusing generally on all immigrants living in the U.S. illegally.
“As a result, companies and workforces will have to adapt. As the labor force shrinks and demand remains high, businesses will likely be forced to pay higher wages, and in turn, pass those higher costs onto consumers,” Thompson said.
Driscoll said businesses will need to work to build trust among employees with transparent policies, clear communication and even legal action.
“Companies can’t hide behind ignorance anymore. If you’re not actively preparing to protect your workers with real policies, clear communication, and public accountability, you’re complicit,” Driscoll said.
“Every person in this country should be terrified, because when the government stops caring about due process, nobody’s citizenship papers are enough to keep them safe.”
The post Employees Have a New Fear: Immigration Raids appeared first on Newsweek.
