As of September 2025, the Trump Administration's federal crackdown in DC has been gaining steam, especially with immigration detentions. Thousands of immigration arrests have been made by the administration in DC and throughout the entire country. On December 2, 2025, a federal judge had barred the Trump Administration from making immigration-related arrests without warrants unless they can prove that the target of the arrest is proven "flight risk." In the ruling, the judge questioned whether immigration officers have been complying with federal, and is under scrutiny if they have. 

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Luis Del Valle's "The Missing Laborer" is a tribute to the often-invisible immigrant and working-class individuals whose labor  helps to sustain society, and it resonates powerfully with that is happening today with U.S. Immigration enforcement detentions. The artwork seeks to restore dignity and visibility to laborers who are frequently overlooked, reflecting Del Valle's broader mission to humanize immigrants and working people, shaped by the current immigration crisis occurring in DC. Current ICE practices in 2025 have led to record-high detentions levels, including thousands of people with no criminal record, many held in overcrowded or secretive facilities, sometimes in prolonged confinement or harsh conditions. These detentions further erase the humanity of individuals who are often the same workers represented in Del Valle's art, yet people whose contributions are essential are criminalized and isolated. "The Missing Laborer" insists on empathy, memory, and recognition of human worth, the current detention landscape frequently strips immigrants of visibility and dignity, making Del Valle's message even more urgent and relevant.