It’s been a couple of weeks since Trump has been back in office and legal immigration enforcement has once again become a top priority. According to SHRM, businesses across the country are experiencing a surge in worksite audits, surprise ICE inspections, and the legal risks that come with them. For industries that rely on temporary labor like logistics, warehousing, manufacturing, and food production this is not a political matter, but a direct concern to their operations.

In just a few weeks, the impact has already been felt. According to the New York Post, businesses have reported a dramatic 50% drop in foot traffic as fear of ICE raids spreads through the community. Businesses that rely on staffing agencies are now questioning whether their providers are properly vetting workers. The reality is concerning, many staffing firms fail to conduct thorough background checks or verify work eligibility, exposing businesses to significant compliance risks. In fact, only 30% of staffing firms consistently perform criminal background checks, have full confidence in their verification process, and proactively ensure screenings are thorough—even when explicitly required by clients.

For businesses, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The worst-case scenario is a worksite shutdown due to violations of hiring laws, bringing operations to a grinding halt. Beyond that, companies risk losing key customer contracts, as clients distance themselves from businesses entangled in compliance issues. On top of that, the financial penalties for employing undocumented workers have been raised to as much as $27,000 per violation. Even well-intentioned employers who make minor mistakes in verifying employee documents can find themselves facing serious legal consequences. This puts companies that rely on temp workers in a difficult position. They need staff to keep their operations running, but they also need to ensure that every hire is properly vetted to avoid compliance risks. 

This year, businesses can no longer afford uncertainty. Employers and businesses must be prepared for the possibility of ICE inspections at any moment, and that means tightening up hiring processes, probably spending hours conducting internal audits and making sure everyone has the proper documentation plus having a plan B in case they need to replace a poll of workers they were counting on. 

These are some of the steps you should have into account ensure compliance and decrease risks:

1. Conduct Regular Audits
   Regularly review identify verification forms and other employment records to ensure all documentation is accurate and up to date. Mistakes in documentation can lead to fines.

2. Have a plan
   Develop and communicate a clear plan for responding to ICE raids. This includes designating a point of contact, training employees on their rights, and outlining the proper procedures for interacting with ICE agents.

3. Train Employees
   Managers and HR teams should be educated on immigration laws, proper documentation procedures, and how to handle a workplace raid.

4. Consult Legal Counsel
   Immigration policies and enforcement practices can shift rapidly, work with immigration and employment law experts to ensure company policies comply with the latest regulations.

5. Partner with a Compliance-First Staffing Provider
   One of the most effective ways to reduce compliance risks is to work with a staffing agency that prioritizes worker verification.

This last point is probably one of the most important, if not the most important thing to have in mind. Relying on a staffing agency that ensures proper documentation and verification is not a “nice to have”, it is a must. This is the crucial breaking point between having business thrive or facing real legal issues. A compliance-first staffing partner eliminates the burden of verifying each worker’s legal status and takes on the responsibility of conducting background checks, identity verification, and work eligibility screenings. It also ensures that businesses have a backup plan in case of labor disruptions, even in the face of uncertainty.

At Traba, we prioritize compliance at every step. We work with a top-tier background check provider to ensure every worker meets strict legal work eligibility requirements, including state, federal, national, county, and global watchlist databases. Our thorough screening process eliminates uncertainty, helping businesses stay protected and compliant in an ever-changing regulatory environment. When enforcement can shift overnight, you need a staffing partner that takes compliance seriously, reduces risk and stays up-to-date  and reduces the burden on your HR team and minimizes the risk of legal repercussions.

Truth is…the risks of inaction—fines, shutdowns, and legal trouble—are too high to ignore.