ICE Significantly Expands Enforcement Operations Across the US

Following executive orders signed on January 20, 2025, ICE launched a large-scale expansion of interior enforcement. The orders removed the previous administration's policy of focusing resources primarily on people with serious criminal records. Under the new policy, anyone in the United States without lawful immigration status can be a priority for arrest and removal. Large-scale operations have been reported in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, and many other cities.

The administration also signed executive orders threatening to withhold federal funds from jurisdictions with sanctuary policies that limit local law enforcement cooperation with ICE. Courts have also seen ICE officers attempting to make arrests near courthouses — a location previously considered off-limits.

Know your rights now. You have the right to remain silent if approached by immigration authorities. You do not have to open your door to ICE officers unless they present a judicial warrant signed by a judge — not just an administrative immigration warrant. You do not have to answer questions about your immigration status. Prepare a safety plan for your household and identify who to call if you or a family member is detained.