Tipsheet
Premium

Acting ICE Director Explains Which American Companies They Plan to Hold Accountable

Leah Barkoukis
Leah Barkoukis  |  July 21, 2025 8:00 AM

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons told CBS’s “Face the Nation” that the Trump administration has “opened up the whole aperture of the immigration portfolio,” and accountability isn’t just coming for those who illegally crossed the border. Speaking specifically about the work site enforcement operations, Lyons emphasized that it’s not just individuals working who are being targeted.

“In regards to the work site, like you mentioned. One thing that I'd really like to highlight, especially what kicked off June 6th in L.A., is the fact that when you see ICE doing these work raids, like the marijuana grow farm, you – we are going there with criminal search warrants or criminal arrest warrants. Not only are we focused on those individuals that are, you know, working here illegally, we're focused on these American companies that are actually exploiting these laborers,” he explained. “These people that came here for a better life. You know, either, you know, forced labor, child trafficking, you know, a lot of these work site cases just isn't a victimless crime of someone here working illegally. And that's why we're going there with these criminal warrants to focus on these American businesses that are trying to make an extra dollar on the backs of these people that came here for a better life.”

When immigration and politics reporter Camilo Montoya-Galvez sought confirmation that the employers are going to be held accountable, Lyons said “100 percent.”