Federal agents block people protesting an ICE immigration raid at a licensed cannabis farm on July 10, 2025, near Camarillo, California.
Unions and employers across California are adopting new measures to protect undocumented workers as immigration raids escalate under the Trump administration, Truthout reports.
After high-profile raids in Los Angeles in June — including actions at an apparel factory and a Home Depot — worker advocates began noting widespread concerns throughout major labor sectors. California estimates that nearly 1.5 million undocumented workers live in the state.
In response, the National Day Laborer Organizing Network expanded its “Adopt a Corner” campaign, which places volunteers at locations where workers seek daily employment. According to Truthout, volunteers inform workers about their rights and hand out pocket-sized cards explaining what to do “when confronted by an immigration officer.”
Jose Madera, director of the Pasadena Community Job Center, said volunteers also record enforcement activity to ensure there is documentation of abuse, violence, or violations of constitutional rights.
Agriculture has seen similar efforts. The United Farm Workers (UFW) urged growers to secure their properties to prevent unauthorized entry by federal agents. UFW Vice President Elizabeth Strater said farms can install gates or block access points with vehicles in open fields.
Strater emphasized that these steps are critical because undocumented workers have the right not to answer questions, yet some have encountered officers who “smash their windows and drag them out of their cars.”
She added that the union has taken legal action against the Department of Homeland Security in response to what it describes as indiscriminate raids. Most farm operators, union or non-union, have welcomed the guidance, and some have even hosted meetings to develop coordinated response plans.
A Stateline report in late November found that immigration authorities appear to have scaled back agricultural workplace raids recently as the administration expanded the H-2A visa program to address labor shortages. Changes include faster visa processing and lower required wages for H-2A workers in many states — a move some growers welcome but labor advocates warn leaves workers vulnerable to future enforcement.
Industries beyond construction and agriculture are also implementing new protective measures, Truthout notes. Daisy Gonzalez of the Garment Worker Center said employers who previously resisted labor-rights discussions are now seeking resources for themselves and their workers. The organization has expanded mutual aid to support workers avoiding job sites due to fear of enforcement.
Restaurants are taking steps as well. In Los Angeles, Yuca’s co-owner Dora Herrera said she provides “Know Your Rights” information to employees and has posted signs marking the restaurant as private property, requiring a warrant for entry. “You learn something, you adapt, and you keep adapting to make it work,” Herrera said.
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