Across the country, immigrants who are in the country unlawfully often do manual, low-paying jobs, and employers say they have no choice but to rely on them. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has vowed to ramp up workplace raids targeting this shadow workforce.

Two weeks ago, Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided seven chicken processing plants in Mississippi. Agents rounded up 680 workers in one of the largest workplace enforcement actions in contemporary history. They were earning $11 to $12 an hour to dismember poultry — dangerous, brutal, repetitive labor.

The raids have resurrected an old debate: if not immigrants, then who will do the tough jobs in America?

Employers Struggle With Hiring Undocumented Workers: ‘You Cannot Hire American Here’

Illustration: Karina Perez for NPR