Criminal employers of illegal immigrants

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all the immigration enforcement happening, how many criminal employer of illegal immigrants have been arrested?

It's kind of like when LE crack down on prostitution and arrest only the sex workers but rarely the johns. Most employers who hire undocumented workers knowingly know that, at most, they'll face fines but rarely any criminal charges.

I asked Grok and this was the response:

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has intensified worksite enforcement. According to an ICE report, since January 20, 2025, ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has arrested over 1,000 undocumented workers and proposed more than $1 million in fines against businesses for hiring violations. For example, on April 30, 2025, ICE notified three Colorado businesses—CCS Denver, Inc., PBC Commercial Cleaning Systems, Inc., and another unnamed company—of fines totaling over $7.6 million for employing unauthorized workers. While these actions involve significant penalties, the sources do not mention arrests of employers themselves.

Historically, prosecuting employers for hiring undocumented workers has been rare. During Trump's first term, only 11 employers were prosecuted in a 12-month period ending March 2019, with just three receiving prison time. The focus has typically been on fining businesses or arresting workers rather than jailing employers. Current enforcement trends suggest a continuation of this approach, with increased audits and fines but no clear evidence of employer arrests in the second term.

This is too bad. It's easy to demonize undocumented workers to the general public, but then ignoring employers' role because God forbid we don't honor private sector money makers.

I'm not against immigration at all and I'm completely sympathetic to the reasons undocumented immigrants come here.

But if ICE and cosplaying "Deportation Barbie" want to be so tough, they should go after employers alongside (or instead of) undocumented workers.

I'm the PP. I did some more digging about which administrations fined or prosecuted the most employers who knowingly hired undocumented workers, and this is what I found (spoiler: it was Obama):

Based on available data, President Barack Obama oversaw the most aggressive crackdown on employers hiring undocumented workers. During his administration, particularly from 2009 to 2012, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) significantly increased Form I-9 audits, jumping from 503 in 2008 to over 8,000 in 2009. Final orders against employers for hiring violations rose from 2 in 2007 to 495 in 2012, and employer arrests increased from 92 in 2007 to 240 in 2012. A notable peak occurred in 2009, with 25 criminal prosecutions of employers, the highest annual figure recorded. Additionally, high-profile fines were imposed, such as a $1 million penalty against Abercrombie & Fitch. While other administrations, like George W. Bush’s (with a peak of 20 prosecutions in 2005) and Donald Trump’s (11 prosecutions from 2018–2019), pursued enforcement, Obama’s policies shifted focus toward employer accountability through audits and sanctions, resulting in the highest documented enforcement actions.

It'll be interesting to watch how the Trump II administration treats employers, many who are probably Republican.

This is why Trump's mean approach is ultimately more humane. He broadcasts people aren't welcome. They don't come here; he doesn't have to deport them. Obama and Biden are like those people that take on strays but don't spay or neuter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all the immigration enforcement happening, how many criminal employer of illegal immigrants have been arrested?

It's kind of like when LE crack down on prostitution and arrest only the sex workers but rarely the johns. Most employers who hire undocumented workers knowingly know that, at most, they'll face fines but rarely any criminal charges.

I asked Grok and this was the response:

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has intensified worksite enforcement. According to an ICE report, since January 20, 2025, ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has arrested over 1,000 undocumented workers and proposed more than $1 million in fines against businesses for hiring violations. For example, on April 30, 2025, ICE notified three Colorado businesses—CCS Denver, Inc., PBC Commercial Cleaning Systems, Inc., and another unnamed company—of fines totaling over $7.6 million for employing unauthorized workers. While these actions involve significant penalties, the sources do not mention arrests of employers themselves.

Historically, prosecuting employers for hiring undocumented workers has been rare. During Trump's first term, only 11 employers were prosecuted in a 12-month period ending March 2019, with just three receiving prison time. The focus has typically been on fining businesses or arresting workers rather than jailing employers. Current enforcement trends suggest a continuation of this approach, with increased audits and fines but no clear evidence of employer arrests in the second term.

This is too bad. It's easy to demonize undocumented workers to the general public, but then ignoring employers' role because God forbid we don't honor private sector money makers.

I'm not against immigration at all and I'm completely sympathetic to the reasons undocumented immigrants come here.

But if ICE and cosplaying "Deportation Barbie" want to be so tough, they should go after employers alongside (or instead of) undocumented workers.

I'm the PP. I did some more digging about which administrations fined or prosecuted the most employers who knowingly hired undocumented workers, and this is what I found (spoiler: it was Obama):

Based on available data, President Barack Obama oversaw the most aggressive crackdown on employers hiring undocumented workers. During his administration, particularly from 2009 to 2012, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) significantly increased Form I-9 audits, jumping from 503 in 2008 to over 8,000 in 2009. Final orders against employers for hiring violations rose from 2 in 2007 to 495 in 2012, and employer arrests increased from 92 in 2007 to 240 in 2012. A notable peak occurred in 2009, with 25 criminal prosecutions of employers, the highest annual figure recorded. Additionally, high-profile fines were imposed, such as a $1 million penalty against Abercrombie & Fitch. While other administrations, like George W. Bush’s (with a peak of 20 prosecutions in 2005) and Donald Trump’s (11 prosecutions from 2018–2019), pursued enforcement, Obama’s policies shifted focus toward employer accountability through audits and sanctions, resulting in the highest documented enforcement actions.

It'll be interesting to watch how the Trump II administration treats employers, many who are probably Republican.

This is why Trump's mean approach is ultimately more humane. He broadcasts people aren't welcome. They don't come here; he doesn't have to deport them. Obama and Biden are like those people that take on strays but don't spay or neuter.

Anything to protect the criminal millionaire and billionaire business owners. Got it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t employ anyone (illegal or otherwise) but I don’t see what this is on the employer. If work papers are provided, why does the employee have to prove they are fake? Let’s just secure the border.

There are many empolyers who pay in cash only or knowingly look the other way. Why shouldn't they be penalized? after all, those are the specific jobs the migrants are seeking when they come to the US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all the immigration enforcement happening, how many criminal employer of illegal immigrants have been arrested?

It's kind of like when LE crack down on prostitution and arrest only the sex workers but rarely the johns. Most employers who hire undocumented workers knowingly know that, at most, they'll face fines but rarely any criminal charges.

I asked Grok and this was the response:

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has intensified worksite enforcement. According to an ICE report, since January 20, 2025, ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has arrested over 1,000 undocumented workers and proposed more than $1 million in fines against businesses for hiring violations. For example, on April 30, 2025, ICE notified three Colorado businesses—CCS Denver, Inc., PBC Commercial Cleaning Systems, Inc., and another unnamed company—of fines totaling over $7.6 million for employing unauthorized workers. While these actions involve significant penalties, the sources do not mention arrests of employers themselves.

Historically, prosecuting employers for hiring undocumented workers has been rare. During Trump's first term, only 11 employers were prosecuted in a 12-month period ending March 2019, with just three receiving prison time. The focus has typically been on fining businesses or arresting workers rather than jailing employers. Current enforcement trends suggest a continuation of this approach, with increased audits and fines but no clear evidence of employer arrests in the second term.

This is too bad. It's easy to demonize undocumented workers to the general public, but then ignoring employers' role because God forbid we don't honor private sector money makers.

I'm not against immigration at all and I'm completely sympathetic to the reasons undocumented immigrants come here.

But if ICE and cosplaying "Deportation Barbie" want to be so tough, they should go after employers alongside (or instead of) undocumented workers.

I'm the PP. I did some more digging about which administrations fined or prosecuted the most employers who knowingly hired undocumented workers, and this is what I found (spoiler: it was Obama):

Based on available data, President Barack Obama oversaw the most aggressive crackdown on employers hiring undocumented workers. During his administration, particularly from 2009 to 2012, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) significantly increased Form I-9 audits, jumping from 503 in 2008 to over 8,000 in 2009. Final orders against employers for hiring violations rose from 2 in 2007 to 495 in 2012, and employer arrests increased from 92 in 2007 to 240 in 2012. A notable peak occurred in 2009, with 25 criminal prosecutions of employers, the highest annual figure recorded. Additionally, high-profile fines were imposed, such as a $1 million penalty against Abercrombie & Fitch. While other administrations, like George W. Bush’s (with a peak of 20 prosecutions in 2005) and Donald Trump’s (11 prosecutions from 2018–2019), pursued enforcement, Obama’s policies shifted focus toward employer accountability through audits and sanctions, resulting in the highest documented enforcement actions.

It'll be interesting to watch how the Trump II administration treats employers, many who are probably Republican.

This is why Trump's mean approach is ultimately more humane. He broadcasts people aren't welcome. They don't come here; he doesn't have to deport them. Obama and Biden are like those people that take on strays but don't spay or neuter.

Trump has employed undocumented migrants for years. Being humane has nothing to do with it. With him it's "Illegals for me but not for thee."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all the immigration enforcement happening, how many criminal employer of illegal immigrants have been arrested?

It's kind of like when LE crack down on prostitution and arrest only the sex workers but rarely the johns. Most employers who hire undocumented workers knowingly know that, at most, they'll face fines but rarely any criminal charges.

I asked Grok and this was the response:

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has intensified worksite enforcement. According to an ICE report, since January 20, 2025, ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has arrested over 1,000 undocumented workers and proposed more than $1 million in fines against businesses for hiring violations. For example, on April 30, 2025, ICE notified three Colorado businesses—CCS Denver, Inc., PBC Commercial Cleaning Systems, Inc., and another unnamed company—of fines totaling over $7.6 million for employing unauthorized workers. While these actions involve significant penalties, the sources do not mention arrests of employers themselves.

Historically, prosecuting employers for hiring undocumented workers has been rare. During Trump's first term, only 11 employers were prosecuted in a 12-month period ending March 2019, with just three receiving prison time. The focus has typically been on fining businesses or arresting workers rather than jailing employers. Current enforcement trends suggest a continuation of this approach, with increased audits and fines but no clear evidence of employer arrests in the second term.

This is too bad. It's easy to demonize undocumented workers to the general public, but then ignoring employers' role because God forbid we don't honor private sector money makers.

I'm not against immigration at all and I'm completely sympathetic to the reasons undocumented immigrants come here.

But if ICE and cosplaying "Deportation Barbie" want to be so tough, they should go after employers alongside (or instead of) undocumented workers.

I'm the PP. I did some more digging about which administrations fined or prosecuted the most employers who knowingly hired undocumented workers, and this is what I found (spoiler: it was Obama):

Based on available data, President Barack Obama oversaw the most aggressive crackdown on employers hiring undocumented workers. During his administration, particularly from 2009 to 2012, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) significantly increased Form I-9 audits, jumping from 503 in 2008 to over 8,000 in 2009. Final orders against employers for hiring violations rose from 2 in 2007 to 495 in 2012, and employer arrests increased from 92 in 2007 to 240 in 2012. A notable peak occurred in 2009, with 25 criminal prosecutions of employers, the highest annual figure recorded. Additionally, high-profile fines were imposed, such as a $1 million penalty against Abercrombie & Fitch. While other administrations, like George W. Bush’s (with a peak of 20 prosecutions in 2005) and Donald Trump’s (11 prosecutions from 2018–2019), pursued enforcement, Obama’s policies shifted focus toward employer accountability through audits and sanctions, resulting in the highest documented enforcement actions.

It'll be interesting to watch how the Trump II administration treats employers, many who are probably Republican.

This is why Trump's mean approach is ultimately more humane. He broadcasts people aren't welcome. They don't come here; he doesn't have to deport them. Obama and Biden are like those people that take on strays but don't spay or neuter.

Trump has employed undocumented migrants for years. Being humane has nothing to do with it. With him it's "Illegals for me but not for thee."

I'm fine with you not having illegals. Grow a spine and outlaw it all the way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With all the immigration enforcement happening, how many criminal employer of illegal immigrants have been arrested?

Democrats refuse to mandate e-verify. I dont understand why. Republicans have proposed multiple bills but democrats side with employers of illegal aliens.

Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) introduced S. 1151, the Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act, to identify unauthorized workers and illegal aliens engaged in identity fraud and theft. The bill is one of NumbersUSA’s “Great Solutions” for fixing immigration policies in the 119th Congress.

After the largest wave of illegal immigration in history (2021-2025), the Executive and Legislative branches will have to muster the will to enforce the law and close existing loopholes in order to restore credibility to our immigration system. There is no bigger loophole than the voluntary nature of E-Verify, which enables employers and the government to turn a blind eye to illegal hiring.

The Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act would:

- Permanently reinstate E-Verify
- Require employers E-Verify new and existing employees within one year
- Require Social Security, Internal Revenue, and Homeland Security to collaborate on a program to identify unauthorized aliens, many of whom also commit some form of identity fraud or theft.

[Anonymous]

E-Verify was launched in the 90s and largely ignored by everyone, bipartisan. No having E-Verify doesn't prevent the Federal government from auditing employers' documentation records.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all the immigration enforcement happening, how many criminal employer of illegal immigrants have been arrested?

It's kind of like when LE crack down on prostitution and arrest only the sex workers but rarely the johns. Most employers who hire undocumented workers knowingly know that, at most, they'll face fines but rarely any criminal charges.

I asked Grok and this was the response:

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has intensified worksite enforcement. According to an ICE report, since January 20, 2025, ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has arrested over 1,000 undocumented workers and proposed more than $1 million in fines against businesses for hiring violations. For example, on April 30, 2025, ICE notified three Colorado businesses—CCS Denver, Inc., PBC Commercial Cleaning Systems, Inc., and another unnamed company—of fines totaling over $7.6 million for employing unauthorized workers. While these actions involve significant penalties, the sources do not mention arrests of employers themselves.

Historically, prosecuting employers for hiring undocumented workers has been rare. During Trump's first term, only 11 employers were prosecuted in a 12-month period ending March 2019, with just three receiving prison time. The focus has typically been on fining businesses or arresting workers rather than jailing employers. Current enforcement trends suggest a continuation of this approach, with increased audits and fines but no clear evidence of employer arrests in the second term.

This is too bad. It's easy to demonize undocumented workers to the general public, but then ignoring employers' role because God forbid we don't honor private sector money makers.

I'm not against immigration at all and I'm completely sympathetic to the reasons undocumented immigrants come here.

But if ICE and cosplaying "Deportation Barbie" want to be so tough, they should go after employers alongside (or instead of) undocumented workers.

I'm the PP. I did some more digging about which administrations fined or prosecuted the most employers who knowingly hired undocumented workers, and this is what I found (spoiler: it was Obama):

Based on available data, President Barack Obama oversaw the most aggressive crackdown on employers hiring undocumented workers. During his administration, particularly from 2009 to 2012, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) significantly increased Form I-9 audits, jumping from 503 in 2008 to over 8,000 in 2009. Final orders against employers for hiring violations rose from 2 in 2007 to 495 in 2012, and employer arrests increased from 92 in 2007 to 240 in 2012. A notable peak occurred in 2009, with 25 criminal prosecutions of employers, the highest annual figure recorded. Additionally, high-profile fines were imposed, such as a $1 million penalty against Abercrombie & Fitch. While other administrations, like George W. Bush’s (with a peak of 20 prosecutions in 2005) and Donald Trump’s (11 prosecutions from 2018–2019), pursued enforcement, Obama’s policies shifted focus toward employer accountability through audits and sanctions, resulting in the highest documented enforcement actions.

It'll be interesting to watch how the Trump II administration treats employers, many who are probably Republican.

This is why Trump's mean approach is ultimately more humane. He broadcasts people aren't welcome. They don't come here; he doesn't have to deport them. Obama and Biden are like those people that take on strays but don't spay or neuter.

More HUMANE?! He has sent legal immigrants, neither accused nor even convicted of crimes, to a human-rights violating prison!

Sending anyone to CECOT rules out the word "humane" in any universe, but he sent innocent Venezuelans. And he knows it. And he is keeping them there.

Humane?!

Do you know what that word means?

At this point, though it makes zero sense for our country economically, I would be happy if he simply deported illegal immigrants willy nilly. But for God's sake, free the innocent people from the concentration camp!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t employ anyone (illegal or otherwise) but I don’t see what this is on the employer. If work papers are provided, why does the employee have to prove they are fake? Let’s just secure the border.

Because most illegal immigration doesn't happen through "the border" and you'd know that if your issue was actually illegal immigration. Most illegal immigration happens through people here legally initially, who overstay their papers.

You want to end illegal immigration? You cut off the supply of jobs. The fact that this is not the strategy being employed should indicate to you once again that this is not about stopping illegal immigration.

Entire industries in this country are essentially built on this underpaid labor. Who will pick your fruit? Who will watch your children? Who will bus your tables?

No, this is about racism. And it always has been. The goal is to remind people of color, especially immigrants, where they belong in this white supremacist nation—quietly working for pennies, not asserting rights like "citizenship" and "due process" and "peaceful protest."

This argument is so trite and basic. You sound like you flunked out of Oberlin.

This “white supremacy” you speak of is way more accepted in places like El Salvador and Mexico than here. You should ask some migrant workers from El Salvador or Honduras if they’d like their daughters to date a Black guy. Come back to the thread with your findings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t employ anyone (illegal or otherwise) but I don’t see what this is on the employer. If work papers are provided, why does the employee have to prove they are fake? Let’s just secure the border.

Because most illegal immigration doesn't happen through "the border" and you'd know that if your issue was actually illegal immigration. Most illegal immigration happens through people here legally initially, who overstay their papers.

You want to end illegal immigration? You cut off the supply of jobs. The fact that this is not the strategy being employed should indicate to you once again that this is not about stopping illegal immigration.

Entire industries in this country are essentially built on this underpaid labor. Who will pick your fruit? Who will watch your children? Who will bus your tables?

No, this is about racism. And it always has been. The goal is to remind people of color, especially immigrants, where they belong in this white supremacist nation—quietly working for pennies, not asserting rights like "citizenship" and "due process" and "peaceful protest."

This argument is so trite and basic. You sound like you flunked out of Oberlin.

This “white supremacy” you speak of is way more accepted in places like El Salvador and Mexico than here. You should ask some migrant workers from El Salvador or Honduras if they’d like their daughters to date a Black guy. Come back to the thread with your findings.

DP. Better yet, ask that of the newly arrived White refugees from South Africa.

[Anonymous]

Not going to happen. Do you think they're going to arrest all the farmers and food processing plant owners who employ these workers? They're mostly Republicans...a lot of them in red states.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all the immigration enforcement happening, how many criminal employer of illegal immigrants have been arrested?

+1 Let's start with every DC nanny employer.

Why? That's just one illegal immigrant. Let's start with all the farmers - they employee a lot more.

Why go after one person when you can go after so many - like shooting fish in a barrel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not going to happen. Do you think they're going to arrest all the farmers and food processing plant owners who employ these workers? They're mostly Republicans...a lot of them in red states.

And they probably donate to R politicians.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all the immigration enforcement happening, how many criminal employer of illegal immigrants have been arrested?

Democrats refuse to mandate e-verify. I dont understand why. Republicans have proposed multiple bills but democrats side with employers of illegal aliens.

Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) introduced S. 1151, the Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act, to identify unauthorized workers and illegal aliens engaged in identity fraud and theft. The bill is one of NumbersUSA’s “Great Solutions” for fixing immigration policies in the 119th Congress.

After the largest wave of illegal immigration in history (2021-2025), the Executive and Legislative branches will have to muster the will to enforce the law and close existing loopholes in order to restore credibility to our immigration system. There is no bigger loophole than the voluntary nature of E-Verify, which enables employers and the government to turn a blind eye to illegal hiring.

The Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act would:

- Permanently reinstate E-Verify
- Require employers E-Verify new and existing employees within one year
- Require Social Security, Internal Revenue, and Homeland Security to collaborate on a program to identify unauthorized aliens, many of whom also commit some form of identity fraud or theft.

Hm.. yea, and some Rs have fought against e-verify.

https://www.politico.com/minutes/congress/05-9-2023/everify-deal/

And businesses, including ones owned by Rs, don't use them

[Anonymous]

Hey, after they fill out the I9 and I do my part on the form and it's submitted to the government, that's on them.

This is directly from the USCIS website:
[i]The employee must also present their employer with acceptable documents as evidence of identity and employment authorization. The employer must examine these documents to determine whether they reasonably appear to be genuine and relate to the employee, then record the document information on the employee’s Form I-9. [u]

https://www.uscis.gov/i-9

I'm not a documents expert. If it looks legit, then it looks legit.