Recent operations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) across California are having far-reaching effects that extend well beyond those who have been taken into custody. The growing presence of ICE agents and the fear surrounding their activity have created a chilling effect in many immigrant communities, particularly among day laborers.

According to community organizations and local observers, several cities across the state are seeing a noticeable decline in the number of day laborers who typically gather in public spaces looking for work. These informal workers — many of whom are undocumented — often rely on daily construction, landscaping, and moving jobs to support their families. But in the past several days, many have stopped showing up altogether, fearing detention or deportation.

Advocates say the drop is not only a sign of fear but also an indication of how immigration enforcement tactics are disrupting local economies and further marginalizing vulnerable populations. In some areas, employers who regularly hire day laborers are also reporting difficulties finding workers.

“This kind of enforcement causes panic — not just among undocumented immigrants, but throughout entire communities,” said a spokesperson from a Bay Area immigrant rights group. “People are afraid to leave their homes, take their kids to school, or go to work.”

The decline comes amid reports of large-scale ICE arrests, including the agency’s largest single-day operation in its history, detaining over 2,200 people nationwide. California, as a state with many sanctuary cities, has been a particular focus of enforcement actions, with arrests recently reported in San Francisco, San Jose, and Concord.

Local leaders and advocacy groups are calling for transparency from federal authorities and urging cities to invest more in legal and social support services to protect residents who feel under threat.

“We’re seeing a situation where fear is keeping people from participating in daily life,” said one local official. “That’s not what public safety should look like.”