ICE: its impact on the green industry

A major concern in the green industry that’s continuing to wind up over the past 12 months are raids directed at green industry employees by U.S. Immigration and Customers Enforcement (ICE).

The National Association of Landscape Professional’s Senior Vice President of government relations and membership, Andrew Bray, says this has been an ongoing issue since the raids started back in February 2025.

“We knew the raids were coming before they started back in February (2025),” Bray says. “These raids have been going on since then — they just began in Los Angeles and have been moving back here to the East Coast…There’s been a lot more activity recently in Charlotte and Atlanta and even New Orleans now.”

Be prepared

Bray says NALP is assisting all members by crafting an immigration enforcement preparedness document that companies should use as a guide to navigate these uncertain times.

“We’re supposed to be here to be a resource and a place to help somebody and to help get them prepared,” he says. “The process starts by making sure your folks are prepared, they have a plan and these topics are being discussed before workers go out in the field. I would hope that every landscape company is having these meetings, not only with leadership but the entire company, to understand what’s going on and that they understand what to do — that’s Step 1.”

Bray says the next step boils down to identification and ensuring everyone has what they need if or when they are approached.

“The second part is making sure all workers have proper identification,” Bray notes. “Most of the workers in our industry are either here on a visa or are U.S. citizens. Either way — whether it’s a driver’s license or an H-2B visa — they should have a copy of it… if it’s a visa we recommend having copies just so you don’t lose the original.”

Bray also recommends companies assign a primary contact who field workers, and their families, can contact if someone is detained by ICE.

“Preparedness is No. 1, but if anything was to happen — it's document, document and then document a third time… the other part is to have a point person within the organization. If somebody is being detained, or if workers are stopped by ICE…this is who has to be contacted,” Bray says.

Bray adds there’s a few things front-line workers should keep in mind if approached by ICE agents.

“If ICE enforcement were to approach, I think it’s important to remember a worker isn’t required to speak if they don’t want to,” he says. “If you don’t speak, it will likely give them the probable cause they need to suspect illegal activity is afoot and that’s how an arrest can be made. I would also let people know to avoid running — I know a worker could be intimidated but running is another immediate trigger for an ICE agent to determine probable cause.

“My advice is to be polite, display the proper identification and then hopefully it’s a simple Terry stop, as we say in the legal field. They get what they need, and you go on your way,” Bray adds.

Bray says he and NALP have seen firsthand how the ICE raids are instilling fear throughout the industry.

“I know many in our industry are being targeted,” Bray says. “Folks that are completely legal to work in this country and they’re afraid to go to parts of the city they work in. Some weren’t even showing up to work. That’s extremely detrimental to a business — if you don’t know if your workers are going to show up, that creates quite a lot of uncertainty.”

Closing up shop

Speaking of uncertainty, a 20-year industry veteran is closing his South Florida operations due to the uncertainty caused by ongoing ICE raids.

“It’s forced us to make the decision to wind down the company after 10 years,” the source, who wishes to remain anonymous says. “The fear is out there. Which brings the unknown and we all know what uncertainty does… uncertainty is never ever good for business.”

The source says that fear has been circulating across the Florida Keys for months now and has caused a dramatic decrease in labor.

“For us to try and recruit people to work here at this company — word travels fast. These guys all talk to each other and play soccer together on the weekends… now, the Florida Keys has this (stigma). They’re saying do not go down there. We can’t find labor.”

With more stories like this happening in Florida and other cities across the country, confidence among front-line workers is continuing to waver.

“To speak to morale, people are scared to death,” the industry veteran says. “Even people who are here legally. Those with temporary status are going back home because they don’t want to even risk it. I’ve also heard that immigration attorneys are recommending people to go to safer areas. My guys for example were told to go to Boston.”

With the industry being targeted, Bray says it’s no surprise that it’s having an impact on business — and more importantly — culture.

“The other part is it’s just horrible from a culture standpoint. I’ve visited countless landscape companies and am always so impressed with the culture. That’s what sets apart a successful landscape company. I think that this is really tearing away at that,” Bray says. “If there’s a silver lining, I’m hoping that it might be embracing that culture and people are supporting each other, but you never want to see one of your coworkers feel that way just because of the way they look.”

That’s why Bray says NALP and its members are always lobbying for comprehensive immigration reform.

“If something like that were to pass what’s going on right now would be totally unnecessary at that point,” Bray says.