If ICE agents arrive at your business, your first and most important step is to stay calm and call your attorney. In our recent webinar, Damian Conforti, Chair of the Hospitality Services Group, emphasized that handling an ICE raid is just like any other law enforcement encounter—the key is knowing your rights and minimizing unnecessary interactions.
Every business should have a designated point person trained to immediately contact legal counsel when ICE arrives. If the business owner prefers to be informed first, the representative should call them right away. This helps ensure that no one provides information or access beyond what is legally required.
Employers must also understand the difference between judicial and administrative warrants:
A judicial warrant, signed by a judge, allows ICE agents to conduct searches and seizures.
An administrative warrant, signed by an ICE agent or immigration judge, does not grant agents the authority to enter non-public areas.
Since distinguishing between the two can be difficult under pressure, the safest course of action is to call your attorney and follow their guidance.