Falling ICE Arrests Do Little to Ease Fear Among NY Farmworkers, Advocates Warn

While some recent federal data shows that national arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have slowed down, advocates say the fear of deportation has left a lasting impact on immigrant communities in New York state, especially among those working in agriculture.

In New York, more than half of the state’s farmworkers are undocumented – leaving many residents navigating the growing risk of deportation, and workplace labor abuses such as wage theft and medical neglect.

Director of Advocacy, Outreach, and Education Emma Kreyche of immigration advocacy nonprofit the Worker Justice Center of New York said immigration enforcement operations affect both undocumented workers and those with other types of immigration status, such as temporary status, asylum seekers, and other forms of work authorization.

While immigration enforcement concerns are not necessarily new, Kreyche says, cities and towns have faced increased escalation of ICE arrests. In Orange County Jail, the number of people detained by ICE have more than doubled since January 2025.

“Part of this administration is to create real uncertainty for communities that are potentially targeted for immigration enforcement, and I think arbitrariness is part of the strategy,” said Kreyche, whose organization provides legal, advocacy, and know-your-rights services.

Following the large-scale raids in Minnesota, ICE has shifted its arrest tactics from larger operations to more targeted and less visible arrests. Kreyche says her organization has responded to more calls for workers facing I-9 audits – a federal inspection where ICE audits an employer to verify all employees’ work authorization status.

The fear of deportation has left some farmworkers less likely to report labor violations or seek medical or legal care, and more at risk to employer coercion, says Kreyche.

“Even where an employer may not be making an explicit threat or carrying out an explicit threat, the underlying fear can really inhibit people from speaking out when they’re concerned about maybe not getting paid properly or some kind of discrimination they’re experiencing. Or even a workplace injury where they may not feel secure in seeking medical treatment for that injury,” said Kreyche.

Federal law such as the Fair Labor Standards Act protects all workers regardless of immigration status and establishes standards to protect workers’ wages, housing, transportation, and recordkeeping.

Farming and agriculture remains one of the most dangerous industries, with farmworkers more likely to navigate extreme weather including heat exposure and use heavy equipment like tractors and machines.

Image: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement began an enhanced enforcement operation in Chicago Jan. 26, 2025. The operation included officers with the Department of Justice, the FBI, the DEA, the ATF and the U.S. Marshals Service. (Photo Credit: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement )