When ICE Comes Knocking

Derek Lawson

Hey everyone, welcome back to The Immigration Conversation. I'm Derek Lawson, and as always, I'm joined by the one and only Ruby Sturt. Ruby, how's it going?

Ruby Sturt

G'day Derek! I'm good, thanks. Bit jittery after reading about all these ICE raids, honestly. It's like, you think your workplace is safe, and then—bam—ICE shows up. Not exactly the Monday morning surprise anyone wants.

Derek Lawson

Yeah, and it's not just nerves. 2025 is shaping up to be a whole new era for workplace enforcement. The administration's really ramped up audits and raids, especially in industries with a lot of immigrant workers. We're talking food processing, construction, auto plants—places like that.

Ruby Sturt

Right, and it's not just the big headline raids. There are these scheduled audits too, which are a bit less dramatic but still stressful. So, Derek, for folks who aren't sure—what actually triggers an ICE visit? And how's an audit different from a raid?

Derek Lawson

Good question. So, an audit usually starts with a Notice of Inspection. You get three business days to pull together all your I-9s, payroll, employee lists, that kind of thing. It's more paperwork, less panic—at least in theory. But a raid? That's a whole different animal. ICE shows up unannounced, usually with a judicial warrant, and expects immediate access. No warning, no time to prep. It's chaos, honestly.

Ruby Sturt

And the impact goes way beyond just the people they’re looking for. I mean, after a raid, you hear about entire shifts not showing up for days. People are scared, even if they’ve done nothing wrong.

Derek Lawson

Absolutely. You know, this actually reminds me of a story from back in Detroit. I was covering an auto plant audit—this was years ago, but the tension in the air was just... you could feel it. Management scrambling, workers whispering, everyone worried about what might happen next. And now, with these new enforcement plans, that kind of anxiety is spreading to more industries. It's not just a one-off anymore.

Ruby Sturt

Yeah, and I think a lot of people still mix up audits and raids. Like, if ICE shows up, do you have to let them in? Or can you say, "Hang on, mate, show me your paperwork"?

Derek Lawson

Well, that's the thing. If it's an audit, you’ve got time to get your documents together. But if it’s a raid, you need to see a proper judicial warrant before they can go into private areas. And honestly, a lot of folks don’t know the difference, which is where things get messy.

Ruby Sturt

Speaking of messy, let’s talk about Newark, New Jersey. That January 2025 incident—ICE came in without a proper warrant, right? And it wasn’t just undocumented workers who got swept up. Even U.S. citizens were detained. Some had military IDs, and ICE still didn’t respect them. That’s wild.

Derek Lawson

Yeah, it’s a textbook example of why knowing your rights matters. The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. ICE needs a judicial warrant—signed by a judge—to enter private areas. An administrative warrant, which is just signed by ICE, doesn’t cut it. But in Newark, agents went in anyway, and it turned into a legal mess.

Ruby Sturt

And the difference between those warrants is huge. A judicial warrant is like, the golden ticket. It’s got a judge’s signature, it spells out exactly what ICE can do. An administrative warrant? That’s more like a strongly worded letter from ICE to themselves. It doesn’t give them the right to barge into private spaces.

Derek Lawson

Exactly. And in Newark, because ICE didn’t follow the rules, they ended up detaining people who had every right to be there. That’s why documentation is so important. If you’ve got security cameras, use them. Take notes, get badge numbers, record what’s happening—because if things go sideways, that’s your best defense.

Ruby Sturt

Yeah, and don’t forget, everyone—regardless of status—has the right to remain silent. You don’t have to answer questions about your immigration status. And you can ask for a lawyer. I mean, the government doesn’t have to give you one, but you can still ask.

Derek Lawson

And if ICE is overstepping, don’t get confrontational. Just document everything and call your attorney. In Newark, the businesses that had good records and legal support were in a much better spot afterward. It’s not about being combative—it’s about protecting your rights and your people.

Ruby Sturt

Honestly, it’s a bit scary how quickly things can go wrong if you don’t know the difference between a real warrant and, well, a piece of paper. And it’s not just about the law—it’s about making sure your team feels safe and knows what to do if ICE shows up.

Derek Lawson

So, let’s get practical. If you’re an employer, what should you actually do to get ready? First off, you need a written response plan. Who’s in charge if ICE shows up? Who reviews the warrant? Who calls the lawyer? You don’t want to be figuring that out in the middle of a raid.

Ruby Sturt

Yeah, and you need a rapid response team. Like, literally people who know what to do—review the warrant, document everything, keep an eye on the agents, and manage communication. It’s not just a checklist, it’s a drill. Practice it, so people don’t freeze up when it’s real.

Derek Lawson

And don’t forget regular I-9 audits. I know, paperwork is nobody’s favorite, but if your forms are a mess, you’re just asking for trouble. Keep them up to date, store them separately from other files, and make sure you’re using the latest version. It’s boring, but it works.

Ruby Sturt

Training is huge too. Everyone—from the front desk to the back office—should know the basics. What’s a public area, what’s private, what do you say if ICE asks you questions? And, like, don’t panic. Stay calm, stay professional. That’s half the battle.

Derek Lawson

And if ICE does show up, review the warrant—make sure it’s signed by a judge, check the address, the scope, all that. Assign someone to shadow the agents, take notes, and don’t let them go beyond what the warrant allows. And after they leave, debrief with your lawyer, update your plan, and talk to your staff. People are going to be rattled, so communication is key.

Ruby Sturt

There’s a great example from a food processing company. They had a surprise inspection, but because they’d trained their team and documented everything, they avoided big penalties. They got their lawyer involved right away, kept records of what ICE did, and followed up with staff. It wasn’t fun, but it worked.

Derek Lawson

Yeah, and that’s the takeaway. Preparation isn’t just about compliance—it’s about protecting your people and your business. The rules are complicated, but if you’ve got a plan, you’re way ahead of the game.

Ruby Sturt

Alright, that’s all we’ve got for today. If you’re an employer or a worker, don’t wait for ICE to come knocking—get your plan together now. And if you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone. We’ll keep breaking this down in future episodes.

Derek Lawson

Thanks for tuning in, everyone. Ruby, always a pleasure. Stay safe out there, and we’ll catch you next time on The Immigration Conversation.

Ruby Sturt

See ya, Derek! And see you all next time. Bye for now!