The Trump administration’s immigration sweeps, which resulted in the arrest of nearly 1,000 individuals, have been followed by a media blitz featuring video and photos of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in tactical gear and vests emblazoned with “Police ICE” and “Homeland Security” taking away cuffed suspects. In some cases, these agents have been instructed to wear raid jackets with clear insignia identifying their agency, even when conducting operations on the perimeter of the operation.
The US government has also released numerous photos on social media of agents in tactical gear conducting purported immigration arrests. A celebrity, Dr. Phil McGraw, has even been embedded with an ICE team in Chicago, releasing video that shows him interviewing Trump’s new “border czar,” Tom Homan, at what was described as an ICE Command Center.
However, the tactics have been met with criticism from some. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, who has worked with federal law enforcement in the past, called the operation “done for the show” and “to score political points with those who want to divide.” He also expressed frustration that his office had not received notice about the arrests despite their past collaboration.
In addition to Chicago, immigration actions have been reported in California, Texas, Georgia, Colorado, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Federal agencies have also released statistics showing that ICE conducted 113,431 administrative arrests in the fiscal year that ended in October 2024.
Despite the criticism, Homan, the border czar, has defended the operation, stating, “We’re prioritizing criminal aliens… There’s going to be a point where we have to open the aperture to fugitives.” The new guidance from the Trump administration prioritizes deporting a wide range of criminal suspects, including those who are “out of status” or have violated the terms of their visa or other immigration requirements.
Adult migrants have stopped going to work and children are not attending school out of fear they could be arrested at any time, a Chicago-based nonprofit assisting immigrants told CNN. In the Atlanta area, the DeKalb County School District has sent a note to school families, advising them that the district will not allow immigration agents to access students or their information without a court order or exigent circumstances. ICE will continue to conduct “enhanced operations” across the Southeast about two to three times a week, involving agents from various federal agencies, including the FBI, DEA, and BATF.