Officials with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency have just announced that they will be conducting at least 1,000 new employer audits.

The audits, basically the Obama administration’s version of immigration raids sans massive arrests and armed government agents, are compounded with the White House’s stated determination to target employers that hire undocumented workers.

Just recently in Minnesota, at least 1,200 janitors were fired from a cleaning company after an audit conducted by ICE found they did not have proper documentation.

Because of this action, thousands more may stand to lose their jobs. It is currently unknown where the audits will take place.

The agency is holding a press briefing this afternoon. Developing….

UPDATE 1PM: From ICE press release: "The 1,000 businesses served with audit notices this week were selected for inspection as a result of investigative leads and intelligence and because of the business’ connection to public safety and national security—for example, privately owned critical infrastructure and key resources. The names and locations of the businesses will not be released at this time due to the ongoing, law enforcement sensitive nature of these audits."

UPDATE 4:45PM: ICE chief John Morton just held a telephone briefing with reporters, and here is some new information Campus Progress has learned:

1. The audits affect businesses in every state in the nation.
2. Morton claims that workplaces critical to national security infrastructure have been targeted, including “power plants,” and the “food industry.”
3. The audits are an effort to “change the national enforcement perspective,” and create a “culture of consequences.”