Ann Lee
by Ann Lee
In an interview with the Center for Immigration Studies, White House Border Czar Tom Homan provided insight on July 16, 2026 into the Administration’s plans to significantly expand worksite enforcement and increase scrutiny of employer compliance.
For employers, the primary takeaway is that the Administration intends to significantly increase worksite enforcement efforts. Employers should anticipate more I-9 audits, renewed follow-up on Social Security no-match letters, and closer coordination among Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Social Security Administration (SSA), the Department of Labor (DOL), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the Department of Justice (DOJ). Homan also emphasized that investigations will increasingly focus on employers, particularly where HSI develops evidence of trafficking, forced labor, or the knowing employment of unauthorized workers. Businesses that utilize staffing agencies or subcontractors, especially in industries historically subject to worksite enforcement, such as agriculture, meatpacking, construction, and hospitality, should consider proactively reviewing their I-9 compliance programs, vendor oversight, and audit procedures.
Key highlights from the interview include:
- Significant expansion of worksite enforcement – Homan stated that after “firing up” worksite enforcement last year, the Administration intends to conduct “a hell of a lot more of it,” noting that HSI leadership is actively planning a substantial expansion of operations.
- Greater emphasis on employer accountability – Homan explained that future worksite enforcement efforts will prioritize building criminal cases against employers that knowingly violate immigration laws, rather than focusing solely on administrative enforcement or arrests of unauthorized workers.
- Centralized I-9 audit model – Homan described plans to establish a centralized “warehouse” staffed by contractors to conduct large-scale I-9 inspections, allowing HSI agents to concentrate on investigations that uncover criminal or administrative violations.
- Renewed Social Security no-match letter enforcement and interagency coordination –Homan stated that DHS is again working closely with the SSA, DOL, IRS, and DOJ to identify and investigate potential worksite violations.
- Strategic employer targeting – Rather than emphasizing large-scale arrests of workers, Homan indicated that enforcement efforts will increasingly target employers believed to be knowingly circumventing immigration laws.
- Administration’s stated rationale – Homan asserted that expanded worksite enforcement is intended to protect U.S. workers’ wages, promote fair competition among employers, and identify trafficking and forced labor occurring at worksites.
- Broader enforcement resources – Homan reported that ICE experienced its highest monthly arrest numbers in June 2026, that approximately 7,000 of 10,000 planned new agents have already been onboarded, and that the Administration continues to seek expansion of detention capacity.
- Continued litigation involving sanctuary jurisdictions – DOJ is expected to continue challenging sanctuary jurisdictions, with additional litigation anticipated.
- Removal goals – Homan reaffirmed the Administration’s objective of reaching one million deportations.
Although these comments do not themselves change employers’ legal obligations, they strongly suggest that worksite enforcement activity will continue to increase.
In light of these statements, employers that have not already done so should evaluate
their I-9 compliance programs, conduct internal audits where appropriate, and review onboarding and contractor management practices to ensure they are prepared for increased enforcement activity.
