The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown strategies involve actions like putting shackled immigrants on U.S. military planes, increasing arrests of illegal residents, and discontinuing programs granting permission to stay. Surprisingly, the administration has not targeted businesses hiring illegal workers, despite the existence of the E-Verify system for over 30 years, designed to verify employees’ legal status. E-Verify has faced resistance despite its potential to reduce illegal employment, with only about 20% of U.S. employers utilizing it, including major companies like Walmart and Starbucks.

The complex debate on workplace enforcement reflects America’s conflicting views on immigration and economic reliance on immigrant labor. While some argue for stricter enforcement to deter illegal crossings and reduce the workforce magnet, opposition comes from various sectors, including Republican groups and industry lobbyists. Idaho serves as an example of this complexity, where lawmakers, despite opposing illegal immigration, resist mandatory E-Verify due to the state’s agricultural dependence on immigrant labor.

President Trump’s rhetoric on immigration emphasizes concerns about crime and border security, yet actual enforcement actions targeting employers remain scarce. Despite previous calls for mandatory E-Verify, Trump’s businesses were slow to adopt the system, raising questions about the administration’s commitment to its own immigration policies. The ongoing struggle between the need for immigrant labor and enforcement measures underscores the multifaceted challenges in addressing illegal immigration effectively.