Before joining DMCA last year, Paul Hunker was the Chief Counsel of the Dallas branch of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He recently shared his experience leading ICE on worksite immigration enforcement raids during his 30 years with the agency.
From the KERA news story:
“Usually, in terms of worksites, we have some information – someone has come to us and told us, you know, that there are undocumented persons that are working there,” Paul Hunker, former chief counsel for ICE in Dallas, told The Texas Newsroom.
He said they often receive “intelligence” from an employee or are following up on a past raid.
In 2008, ICE raided Pilgrim’s Pride plants across the country, including in Mt. Pleasant, Texas. Hunker said those arrested were alleged to have stolen the identities of U.S. citizens to be able to work.
Other times, ICE agents will inspect federal employment eligibility forms filed by the company at worksites.
Once inside, Hunker said workers are grouped according to their status. For example, U.S. citizens are separated from non-citizens with authorization to work and non-citizens who aren’t authorized.
Afterward, workers are taken to a local ICE office, often by bus, where they’re processed before they’re moved to a detention center. Those who are detained have a right to an attorney but ICE doesn’t provide one.
Some individuals will receive a notice to appear in court while others might be scheduled for immediate removal.
Hunker said workplace enforcement actions are not quick and easy.
“There’s a huge amount of coordination with state and locals to sort of plan out the operation,” he said.
Read the full story here: Donald Trump has promised to restart workplace immigration raids. How may that happen? | KERA News
Paul joined DMCA in February 2024 and manages the firm’s Dallas office. He is now counseling U.S. businesses on how to prepare for a potential ICE Worksite Raid.
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