The Trump Administration has recently vowed to ramp up its ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids throughout the country, with an intentional focus on California. From their onset, the ICE raids have been controversial for their use of unidentified agents and intense shows of force. The force and methods used by ICE have only escalated as weeks passed, including countless reports of worker and protester injuries, but culminating in the first confirmed death of a farm worker in Ventura County; Jaime Alanís fell off a roof while attempting to hide from ICE agents and passed away the next day from his injuries.
With the passage of the “Big Beautiful Bill,” ICE’s budget will increase by magnitudes, so ICE raids will only increase in frequency and power. Workers across the country, but most specifically in California, are left wondering if they have any options to get help and medical care should they be injured during an ICE raid.
Can you get workers’ compensation benefits if you’re hurt in an ICE raid in California? Yes, you can if you are already covered by workers’ compensation. Thanks to California’s generous worker protection laws, even undocumented workers can qualify for workers’ comp benefits.
Workers’ Comp in California for Undocumented Workers
Under California employment law:
- All workers who are eligible for workers’ compensation must be covered, regardless of immigration status.
- All employers who must carry workers’ compensation insurance must include undocumented workers in the coverage.
- Any form of employer discrimination or retaliation against an undocumented worker for filing for workers’ compensation is strictly prohibited.
- Although federal law prohibits companies from hiring undocumented workers, employers still must provide workers’ compensation benefits to any injured worker due to California law.
Importantly, workers’ compensation benefits should be provided to any worker who is hurt in the course of their employment or while at a workplace owned or managed by their employer. To this end, if you were hurt in an ICE raid at your place of employment in California – whether your workplace is a farm, construction site, hotel, restaurant, medical center or hospital, retail store, etc. – you likely qualify for workers’ compensation coverage.
What Benefits Can You Get After Being Hurt in an ICE Raid?
The benefits that could be available to you through workers’ compensation coverage typically do not change based on the specifics of the situation or accident that led to your injury. For this reason, if you were hurt due to the force and tactics used by ICE agents during a workplace raid, you could qualify for the same benefits that you would have been owed if you were hurt due to slipping and falling at work or hurting your back while lifting a box at work, and so on.
If ICE agents hurt you at work in California, you could qualify for these workers’ comp benefits and more:
- Coverage for all necessary medical treatments related to your injuries
- Recovery of wages you didn’t earn due to your inability to work after being injured
- Death benefits if you lost a loved one as a result of a work-related injury
Alvandi Law Group, P.C. Handles ICE Raid Claims – Call Now
At Alvandi Law Group, P.C., we proudly represent injured workers across California from all walks of life who work in all industries, including undocumented workers. You deserve the full protections offered under the law and fair workers’ compensation benefits to help you recover from a work-related injury. Even if you were hurt because an ICE agent took matters too far while trying to detain you, we believe you should have access to the resources you need to recover comfortably.
Talk to a California ICE raid workers’ comp lawyer today by dialing (800) 980-6905 and requesting a FREE case evaluation. Ofrecemos nuestra ayuda legal también en español: https://www.alvandigroup.com/espanol/