U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to leverage new funding in 2026 to implement a more aggressive immigration crackdown, including increased workplace raids—despite mounting opposition ahead of next year’s midterm elections.
Trump has already deployed additional immigration enforcement officers to major U.S. cities, where they have conducted sweeping operations, often clashing with local communities. While federal agents carried out high-profile raids on businesses this year, they largely avoided farms, factories, and other economically critical sectors known to employ undocumented workers.
Following the passage of a massive spending bill by the Republican-controlled Congress in July, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol will receive an additional $170 billion by September 2029—a significant increase compared to their current annual budget of approximately $19 billion.
Government officials stated plans to hire thousands of new agents, open additional detention centers, increase arrests in local jails, and collaborate with private firms to track undocumented individuals.
Despite growing political backlash ahead of the midterms, deportation efforts continue to expand.
Miami, with its large immigrant population, has been among the hardest-hit cities by Trump’s crackdown. Last week, the city elected its first Democratic mayor in nearly three decades, partly in response to Trump’s policies. Other local elections and polls also indicate rising voter concerns over aggressive immigration tactics.
“People are starting to see this not just as an immigration issue but as a violation of rights, due process, and the unconstitutional militarization of communities,” said moderate Republican strategist Mike Madrid. “This is clearly a problem for the president and the GOP.”
Trump’s approval rating on immigration—once his strongest issue—has dropped from 50% in March (before his crackdown in major cities) to 41% by mid-December. Public unease centers on tactics like tear gas in residential areas and detentions of U.S. citizens.
**Surge in Arrests Expected** Beyond expanding enforcement, Trump has revoked temporary legal status for hundreds of thousands of Haitian, Venezuelan, and Afghan migrants, widening the pool of deportable individuals. He pledged to deport 1 million immigrants annually—a target he is unlikely to meet this year. So far, about 622,000 deportations have occurred since Trump took office in January.
White House Border Czar Tom Homan told Reuters that Trump has delivered on his promise of historic deportations and targeting criminals while curbing illegal border crossings. With ICE’s expanded funding, Homan expects arrests to rise sharply.
“You’ll see a dramatic spike next year,” he said, confirming workplace raids are “absolutely” part of the plan.
Sarah Pierce, social policy director at center-left think tank Third Way, noted that U.S. businesses have largely avoided challenging Trump’s crackdown but may push back if enforcement targets employers.
**Impact on Employers** Next year’s workplace-focused strategy could lead to more arrests and disrupt the economy, particularly for Republican-leaning business owners. Replacing detained workers may raise labor costs, undermining Trump’s anti-inflation efforts—a key issue in the midterms.
Earlier this year, officials reportedly exempted certain businesses from raids under Trump’s orders but later reversed course. Immigration hardliners like Jessica Vaughan of the Center for Immigration Studies argue that targeting employers is essential to deterring undocumented hiring.
**Legal Immigrants Also Targeted** The administration has also intensified scrutiny of legal immigrants, arresting spouses during green card interviews, revoking student visas, and even detaining individuals at naturalization ceremonies.
While ICE claims to prioritize criminals, data shows a higher proportion of arrests involve individuals accused solely of immigration violations—41% of detainees as of November, compared to 6% before Trump took office.
As tensions escalate, businesses shutter to avoid raids, parents keep children home from school, and even U.S. citizens carry passports as proof of status. The coming year’s enforcement surge could redefine the immigration debate—and its political fallout.
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