Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has become a growing concern for construction projects across the country as the Trump administration continues to push for crackdowns on illegal immigration. Over the past month, illegal immigrants and US citizens alike have had run-ins with ICE as the agency has aggressively increased its intake. As of 12/10/2025, the DHS claims to have deported over 605,000 people.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the interior enforcement agency within the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), another agency within DHS, is responsible for enforcement at or near the nation’s borders. ICE has already swept through parts of Ohio and will likely continue to do so throughout this administration. In October, Mount Vernon, Ohio, a neighboring small town to OLTC’s home base, Howard, Ohio, made national news when ICE detained staff members of Panchos Tacos, a local Mexican restaurant. Just before Christmas, ICE targeted Columbus and central Ohio for their high immigrant population.

If ICE ever targets you or your job site, it’s essential to know your rights, for yourself and for others. The Immigrant Legal Resource Center has a list of rights to remember if confronted by ICE. The list is located here: https://www.ilrc.org /sites/default/files/2025-08/KYR-One-Page.pdf

It’s important to remember that Constitutional protections apply to everyone within the United States territories. Not just US citizens.

Citations:

https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/12/10/thanks-president-trump-and-secretary-noem-more-25-million-illegal-aliens-left-us#:~:text=“The%20Trump%20Administration%20is%20shattering,1.9%20million%20have%20self%2Ddeported.

https://www.ilrc.org/sites/default/files/2025-08/KYR-One-Page.pdf

https://www.ilrc.org/community-resources/know-your-rights/know-your-rights-when-confronted-ice-flyer

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2025/10/15/ice-arrested-5-in-raid-at-mount-vernon-panchos-tacos/86705895007/