1. How This All Started: A Conversation I Didn’t Expect
Yesterday I was on the phone with Mike, the owner of Maid Marines in New York. Though the conversation took a turn that I did not expect. He shared with me that one of his cleaners had been detained by ICE for several weeks.
Not because she was undocumented.
Not because she had done anything wrong.
Not because she had outstanding paperwork.
She was here legally.
ICE detained her first, then sorted out the truth later. She eventually got released, but only after a long and terrifying ordeal. Mike was shaken. His cleaner was traumatized. And he told me:
“Greg, they’re picking people up first and then checking later if they’re legal.”
And then today, the very next day, I learned that one of my own staff member’s husbands was taken into ICE custody. She is here legally, and he was in the process of becoming legal, fully cooperating with the government. They had simply gone in for their routine ICE appointment. She told me, “They let me go home with my daughter, but he stayed behind.” She fears he will be sent back to Peru.
I felt that in my chest.
Two back-to-back stories. Two families terrified. Now this is no longer a “thing happening in the news.”
It’s here. It’s real. And it’s hitting the cleaning industry directly.
2. When Legal Workers Get Detained: What’s Really Going On?
Let’s be honest: many of cleaners in the U.S. are immigrants, some documented, some in process, some with mixed-status families. Thus cleaning companies (housekeeping, janitorial, maid services) can be easy targets, especially with a) staff traveling frequently to their jobs, work spread out across many homes, b) many are bilingual or primarily Spanish-speaking, c) they often don’t carry original documents on them, and d) most customers don’t understand immigration rules. And this creates a perfect storm:
ICE, in many cases, is detaining people first and verifying status later.
This is not speculation. This is happening:
- A Hawaii cleaning company was raided even though many workers were legal.
- A domestic workers’ coalition in California reported legal workers being questioned and temporarily held.
- A national report showed janitorial/cleaning workers are frequently swept up in “broad” enforcement actions meant for employers with violations.
This doesn’t mean every ICE officer acts improperly. But it does mean this: If your workers “look foreign” or “sound foreign,” they can be targeted, even if fully legal. This is unacceptable, but it’s reality. And cleaning company owners need to understand the risk and prepare their people.
3. The Human Impact: Fear Is Spreading Through the Industry
At Memphis Maids my brother-in-law (and owner) sadly told me an entire team actually stayed home for a couple of months because they were terrified of being picked up by ICE. These are good, hard-working people, fully authorized to work and yet the fear was so real that they stopped working altogether.
Now I’m hearing the same concerns from my management teams at Emily’s Maids and from our sister company, Dallas Maids. Staff are getting anxious, asking questions, and worrying that even legal workers could be detained without warning. The uncertainty is spreading, and it’s affecting people who have done everything right.
For many immigrant workers, even those with complete legal status, fear isn’t theoretical. It’s lived. It’s remembered. And it shapes how safe they feel simply driving to a client’s home or walking into a new neighborhood. They deserve clarity. They deserve protection. And as business owners, we have a responsibility to provide both.
4. The Business Impact: Why Owners Must Act Now
Wrongful detention can cause:
Operational Issues
- Missed cleanings
- Emergency schedule changes
- Angry customers
- Financial loss
Staffing Crises
- Workers quitting out of fear
- Recruiting becomes harder
- Loss of morale
Legal & Liability Exposure
If your I-9 files aren’t perfect, even if everyone is legal, you can be targeted. And frankly from the stories I’m hearing recently, even perfect I-9s are probably not enough to prevent your staff from being abducted by ICE.
Reputation Damage
If staff disappear on the way to a job, customers get alarmed.
If your staff feel unsupported, they leave.
If your company looks sloppy, ICE notices.
5. How to Protect Your Workers Today (This Is the Most Important Section)
Here is the protection plan I’m implementing at Emily’s Maids and every cleaning company should implement the same or better.
A. Require Workers to Carry Proof of Legal Status at All Times
They should carry ONE of these:
- Green card
- EAD (work permit)
- Visa + passport
- Passport + I-94 printout
- State ID + I-797 approval notice
And ALSO:
- A clear photo of the documents on their phone
- A photocopy in their cleaning kit or car
ICE often releases legal workers immediately if proof is available on the spot.
B. Give Every Worker a “Rights Card” (English + Spanish)
A small card they can hand to any agent:
English:
- “I am exercising my right to remain silent.”
- “I do not consent to a search.”
- “I want to speak to my attorney.”
Spanish:
- “Estoy ejerciendo mi derecho de guardar silencio.”
- “No doy consentimiento para una búsqueda.”
- “Quiero hablar con mi abogado.”
No arguing.
No running.
No discussing citizenship.
Just hand the card.
C. Train Workers in Safe ICE Interaction
Teach them:
What to say:
- “Am I free to go?”
- “Here is my identification.”
What not to say:
- Never lie
- Never sign anything
- Never let them into a home without a warrant
- Never run
5 minutes of training can save someone weeks of detention.
D. Create an “Emergency Folder” for Each Employee
Inside:
- Copies of immigration documents
- Rights card
- Proof of employment
- Company emergency phone number
- Family contact
- Attorney contact
They keep the emergency folder in their car or cleaning bag.
E. Audit All I-9 Documentation (Critically Important)
Even if every worker is 100% legal, ICE can target a business for:
- Expired I-9s
- Missing signatures
- Incorrect verification
- Old documents not updated
Most small cleaning companies do I-9s incorrectly. This puts them at risk. And puts workers at risk.
F. Have an Immigration Attorney “On Call”
Your company should have:
- A dedicated attorney (or two)
- A rapid-response protocol
- A pre-filled release request letter
- A staff emergency contact list
When someone is detained, speed matters. Minutes matter. Hours matter. Delays cause multi-week detentions. As I write this article, one of my staff is feverishly searching for a good immigration lawyer (or two).
G. Communicate With Staff Frequently and Clearly
Tell them:
- They are valued
- They are safe
- You have a plan
- They will not be abandoned
- You will support them
- You will help their families
You’d be amazed how much this lowers fear.
6. What To Do If ICE Detains a Worker
Step 1: Worker or family contacts you immediately
Call, WhatsApp, text or anything.
Step 2: You activate your Rapid Response Plan
Grab their documents. Notify your attorney.
Step 3: Attorney contacts ICE detention center
Requests immediate release.
Step 4: You communicate with the rest of the team
Clear messaging reduces panic.
Step 5: Document everything
Date, time, names, officers, location. This protects you and them legally.
7. What Cleaning Business Owners Must Do This Week
Here is your urgent checklist:
- Review all I-9 files
- Verify expiration dates
- Issue rights cards
- Create emergency folders
- Meet with an immigration attorney
- Train staff on safe interactions
- Update company handbook
- Establish a rapid response protocol
- Reassure your team in writing
- Keep a manager “always reachable”
This is how you run a responsible cleaning business in 2025.
And as due-process protections grow uncertain, you may want to see how Dallas Maids has been preparing its staff and systems for this brave new world that none of us expected, but all of us must now be ready for.
8. A Direct Message to the Emily’s Maids Team
To all our staff reading this:
You are valued.
You are appreciated.
You are part of our family.
If you are here legally (which I’d assume you are since we have your I9s), we will protect you. We will support you. You will not be alone. We are putting every possible safeguard in place to ensure that you are safe while doing your job. You take care of our customers. We will take care of you.
~ Greg