ICE raids ramp up

Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested almost 1,000 undocumented immigrants on Sunday, with apprehensions reported across the United States.

The agency said law enforcement officers made 956 arrests and issued 554 detainers, which indicate “probable cause to believe that the individual is removable from the United States under federal immigration law.”

This marked a steady increase in operations that have grown larger since President Donald Trump’s second term began on January 20. Newsweek contacted ICE for further comment via email outside normal office hours.

A Homeland Security Investigations special agent preparing to arrest alleged immigration law violators at Fresh Mark in Salem, Ohio, on June 19, 2018.

Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)

Why It Matters

In his first week since returning to office, Trump has followed through on his 2024 campaign promise to launch the “largest deportation program” in U.S. history, signing a series of executive orders that showcase his administration’s commitment to implementing a hard-line immigration agenda.

A New York Times/Ipsos poll carried out from January 2 to 10 found that 55 percent of voters strongly or somewhat supported such plans. Eighty-eight percent supported “deporting immigrants who are here illegally and have criminal records.” Both Democrats and Republicans agreed that the country’s immigration system was broken.

What To Know

On Sunday, senior Trump administration officials, including “border czar” Tom Homan and the acting deputy attorney general, visited Chicago to observe the launch of ramped-up immigration enforcement efforts in the nation’s third-largest city.

According to media reports, raids have also occurred in cities such as Newark, New Jersey; Atlanta, Georgia; Phoenix, Arizona; Omaha, Nebraska; Detroit, Michigan; Miami, Florida; Austin and San Antonio, Texas; Los Angeles and San Jose, California; and Denver, Colorado.

ICE Raids in Denver

Federal agents raided a “makeshift nightclub” in north Denver early Sunday morning, disrupting a party and arresting almost 50 individuals said to be in the country unlawfully. Many of those detained were linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, the Drug Enforcement Administration reported.

The DEA, ICE, Homeland Security, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with local partners, conducted the raid, seizing drugs, weapons and cash.

According to NewsNation, ICE said that “at least” 41 of the 49 individuals arrested were in the U.S. illegally.

ICE Raids in Miami

The ICE field office in Miami provided details on the arrests of five individuals—three in Florida and two in Puerto Rico—accused of being in the U.S. illegally.

The two individuals arrested in Puerto Rico were residents of the Dominican Republic, the agency said. One faced charges of domestic violence, while the other was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.

A Nicaraguan national was apprehended at the Broward County Jail on charges that include aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, unlawful carrying of a concealed weapon, discharging a firearm in public and driving with a suspended license.

A Jamaican national with charges for possession of oxycodone, displaying a firearm during a felony offense and operating a motor vehicle without a valid license was also arrested, while a Mexican national at the Martin County Jail was charged with traffic offenses and convicted of multiple DUIs.

ICE Raids in Chicago

TV host Phil McGraw, known professionally as Dr. Phil, accompanied Homan, ICE agents and officers with the DEA as they conducted raids in Chicago.

During the operation, the 74-year-old TV personality questioned a migrant in handcuffs, who denied being a sex offender.

Dr. Phil asked the detainee if he had ever been deported from the United States, and he said no. He also mentioned that his mother was a citizen, though he was not.

When Dr. Phil pressed him again, asking if he had been charged with sex crimes involving children, the man answered, “Not really.”

What People Are Saying

Tom Homan, President Donald Trump’s border czar, told NewsNation on Thursday: “If we arrested 1,300 people, over a thousand of them are criminals. Who are the other ones? They are either fugitives who’ve been through immigration court and ordered removed but didn’t leave and became a fugitive or collaterals. Where do the collateral arrests happen? In sanctuary cities because they forced us into the community. Like I said from Day 1, no one is off the table. If you’re in the United States illegally, you got a problem. But we are concentrating on public safety threats first.”

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday: “We’ve received reports of ICE enforcement activity in Chicago today. Please know that Chicago police were not involved. My team and I are working closely with City officials.”

Sally Sparks, a DEA spokesperson, told KXAN: “The DEA Houston division assisted the Department of Homeland Security with their targeted enforcement operations today.”

The ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Miami field office said on X: “ICE protects America by enforcing US immigration laws to preserve national security & public safety.”