What to Do if ICE Appears at Your Business

Safe Workplaces, Strong Communities: What to Do if ICE Appears at Your Business

Join your local business community for a practical, rights-based training on how to support your employees and uphold the law in the event of an ICE visit.

Marcia Schneider and Jennifer Callison from East Portland Indivisible will lead a clear and accessible presentation for employers and employees on your legal rights, your options, and the steps you can take to create a safe and lawful workplace. All materials are grounded in guidance from the National Immigration Law Center and the National Employment Law Project.

From LRR Founder, Jenelle Etzel: Many local business owners have shared with me that their employees are frightened, staying home, and in some cases unable to come to work because of the threat of ICE. This fear is placing real strain on the wellbeing of owners and staff, and it’s disrupting the manufacturing, trades, and service businesses that keep our region strong. When workers are afraid to show up, companies lose revenue, families lose stability, and the very systems that support our communities begin to fray.

At Living Room Realty, we recognize that we are in a unique position. Because our staff are not vulnerable to immigration enforcement, we can take a public stand without jeopardizing anyone’s safety. We can be a safe place to learn, to train, and to speak openly about the constitutional rights every person and every business is entitled to. As Americans, we have a responsibility to defend those rights. As Realtors, we have taken an oath to help build and protect strong, functioning cities, and this issue sits squarely in the center of that duty.

We are also living through a housing crisis. Without the skilled labor force currently being targeted by ICE, the cost of construction will continue to rise, timelines will continue to stretch, and small businesses that depend on these workers will continue to suffer. The health of our housing market is inseparable from the health of our workforce.

Many of our agents have asked what they can do. They care deeply, yet they often feel unsure of where to begin. My hope is that this training will give our community tools, clarity, and a sense of shared strength. This is a moment for collective action, and together we can make a meaningful difference.