US President Donald Trump is preparing to sharply expand immigration enforcement in 2026, supported by an unprecedented increase in federal funding and a broader strategy that will intensify deportations and workplace inspections. The planned crackdown is expected to reshape the US immigration system and have far reaching implications for employers, foreign workers and local economies, even as political resistance builds ahead of the midterm elections.
Under the new push, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the US Border Patrol are set to receive an additional 170 billion dollars in funding through September 2029. This funding surge, approved as part of a large spending package passed by the Republican controlled Congress, comes on top of their existing annual budgets of about 19 billion dollars. The additional resources are expected to dramatically expand enforcement capacity.
Officials say the funds will be used to recruit thousands of new officers, increase detention space, open new facilities, strengthen cooperation with local jails and partner with private firms to track individuals without legal immigration status. The move follows months of intensified enforcement activity in major cities, where federal agents have carried out operations in immigrant dense areas, sometimes triggering public protests and tensions.
While earlier enforcement efforts largely avoided farms, factories and other labour intensive workplaces, that approach is set to change. White House border adviser Tom Homan confirmed that workplace enforcement will be a central focus of the next phase. He said arrest numbers are expected to rise sharply as staffing and detention capacity increase, adding that enforcement actions at worksites are very much part of the plan.
The administration has also moved to roll back temporary legal protections for large groups of immigrants from countries including Haiti, Venezuela and Afghanistan. This step significantly increases the number of people eligible for removal. Trump has repeatedly pledged to deport up to one million immigrants annually, though officials concede that this target is unlikely to be met in the near term. Since his return to office in January, more than 600,000 deportations have already taken place.
Despite claims by the administration that it has launched a historic deportation drive focused on criminals and border security, critics warn that expanded workplace raids could disrupt businesses, deepen labour shortages and inflame community tensions. Political opposition is expected to intensify as the 2026 elections draw closer.
Alongside enforcement measures, the administration is also moving to tighten employment based immigration rules. A new proposal from the Department of Labor seeks to strengthen wage protections for H 1B and PERM visa holders. Although details remain under review, the intent is to raise prevailing wage requirements, making it more costly for employers to hire foreign professionals.
Similar wage reforms were attempted during Trump’s previous term but were later struck down or withdrawn. If revived in a stronger form, the new rule could sharply increase minimum salary thresholds, potentially pricing many foreign workers out of the system. Industry estimates suggest that roles once paying around 120,000 dollars may need to offer more than 230,000 dollars to comply with the proposed standards.
Together, the expanded enforcement drive and stricter visa rules signal a major shift in US immigration and labour policy, with significant consequences for businesses, workers and the broader economy in the years ahead.
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