Overview

• Joe Rogan on his July 1 podcast decried the sweeps as focusing on construction workers and gardeners instead of cartel members or gang affiliates.
• ICE’s labor-focused operations have extended to college campuses, highlighted by the arrest of Turkish student Rümeysa Öztürk at Tufts University over alleged support for Hamas.
• The administration’s current enforcement strategy departs from its 2025 pledge to prioritize criminal networks, supplanting previous ICE guidelines that protected law-abiding migrants.
• Farmers, construction firms and advocacy groups warned that aggressive deportations could trigger labor shortages and undermine key industries.
• Despite mounting criticism from influencers, industry leaders and civil-liberties advocates, ICE has announced no changes to its expanded targeting criteria.