ICE Changes Its Tactics
Federal immigration officials are increasingly being pushed out of local jails and into neighborhoods, workplaces, and public spaces as sanctuary policies continue to restrict cooperation with federal authorities.
According to reporting by The Washington Post, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been forced to change enforcement tactics after many state and local governments declined to honor ICE detainer requests. As a result, agents are now carrying out far more “at-large” arrests — detentions made outside of jail settings.
Those arrests can take place at job sites, immigration check-ins, and other public locations.
Arrest Numbers Reach Historic Highs
Data reviewed by the Post shows ICE recorded approximately 17,500 at-large arrests in September, with October on track to surpass that total based on mid-month figures.
If confirmed, those numbers would mark the highest monthly total since at least 2011, far exceeding previous records.
For comparison, the prior high occurred in January 2023, when about 11,500 at-large arrests were logged.
The Post’s analysis also found that ICE is now making more than four times as many at-large arrests per week as during President Donald Trump’s first term.
DHS Pushes Broader Enforcement Strategy
Administration officials say the shift reflects a broader effort by the Department of Homeland Security to increase removals and meet expanded enforcement goals.
The strategy began taking shape in June, when ICE launched a large-scale operation in Los Angeles. Over the following five months, nationwide at-large arrests climbed to nearly 67,800, more than double the total from the prior five-month period.
In June, September, and October, at-large arrests accounted for more than half of all ICE detentions, something that had not occurred since early 2023.
Sanctuary Policies Drive the Shift, Officials Say
Federal officials argue that sanctuary laws in several blue states and cities are a key factor behind the surge.
Border enforcement chief Tom Homan told Newsmax that when local governments refuse to transfer inmates to ICE custody, agents are left with few alternatives.
“When you don’t get cooperation from jails, officers have to go into communities,” Homan said, adding that agents often encounter additional illegal immigrants during those operations.
Media Claims Disputed by DHS
The Post reported that more than 60 percent of individuals arrested at large since June did not have criminal convictions or pending charges. DHS officials strongly dispute that conclusion.
DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said approximately 70 percent of ICE arrests involve individuals with criminal convictions or active charges in the United States, noting that some also have criminal histories in their home countries.
She criticized the report, saying selective data presentation can create a misleading narrative and emphasized that ICE continues to prioritize individuals deemed public safety or national security risks.
Arrests Accelerate in Major Blue Cities
The Post’s own data shows overall arrests rose 60 percent from June through mid-October compared with the administration’s first five months.
In September alone, ICE recorded 21 days with more than 1,000 arrests.
Officials say enforcement efforts in major sanctuary jurisdictions — including Chicago, Boston, and Washington — played a significant role in the increase.
The surge underscores the growing divide between federal immigration enforcement priorities and local sanctuary policies, as ICE agents continue to adapt their approach amid ongoing resistance from city and state governments.
