In a dramatic escalation of President Trump’s promised deportation program, federal immigration authorities have launched an aggressive campaign targeting illegal workers across California, revealing the deep dependence of the state’s economy on undocumented labor.

The operation, which began with a high-profile raid at Ambiance Apparel in downtown Los Angeles on June 6, has now expanded to agricultural centers in Ventura County and the San Joaquin Valley. Federal agents in tactical gear have been filmed daily detaining individuals as part of what Trump vowed would be “the largest deportation program in American history.”

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, accompanied by FBI agents and other federal authorities, have detained dozens of workers in these operations. The raids come as President Trump fulfills his campaign promise to target illegal immigration, which he claimed was taking jobs from American citizens.

“They’re taking your jobs,” Trump told supporters during his successful 2024 campaign. “Every job produced in this country over the last two years has gone to illegal aliens.”

The enforcement actions have sparked fierce resistance from California officials. Governor Gavin Newsom’s office has characterized the deployment of Marines to the California border as “mission creep,” highlighting the growing tension between federal and state authorities.

California’s agricultural and construction industries appear particularly vulnerable to the crackdown. Industry representatives warn that the raids threaten food production and construction projects across the state at a time when labor shortages are already acute.

“The way this is all being handled, it’s interfering with food production,” said Bryan Little, policy director at the California Farm Bureau.

Some California Republicans have urged Trump to focus enforcement efforts on violent criminals rather than workers, revealing divisions within the party about the scale and targets of the immigration crackdown.

As federal agents continue their operations across California, communities are experiencing significant economic disruption. Studies show that following immigration raids, local economies often suffer as people stay home and stop spending money out of fear.

With federal agents now turning their attention to California’s cannabis industry, the state that has long defied federal immigration policies is facing the full force of President Trump’s promised enforcement agenda.

The administration appears determined to continue these operations despite resistance, signaling that California will remain ground zero for immigration enforcement in the months ahead.