1. Enforcement Surge & Scope
- ICE logged 32,809 at-large arrests in Trump’s first 50 days—nearly matching all of FY 2024 (33,242) .
- Interior arrests spiked over 137%, with an average of 800–1,200 people detained daily during early weeks .
- A growing share—23%, versus 7% under Biden—were non-criminals (e.g., parents, long-term residents) washingtonpost.com.
2. High-Profile Individual Cases
a. Mahmoud Khalil
Columbia University student activist detained in March 2025 over pro-Palestinian speech. His visa was revoked without warrant. He was later released after a court challenge .
b. Mohsen Mahdawi
Another student arrested in Vermont during a citizenship interview (April 14). He’d been detained for political activism and won release by court order .
c. Rümeysa Öztürk
Tufts University student detained in March for criticizing Gaza response. ICE revoked her visa, moved her through multiple centers, and released her on bail in May .
d. Mississippian Welder
In April, a Danish-born father of four was arrested at a citizenship appointment in Memphis—despite no criminal record—highlighting warrantless tactics.
e. Meatpacking Worker Unions & Labor Activists
Across mid-2025, ICE raids in Omaha and other regions captured dozens—about 75–80 in Nebraska—many based on paperwork, not criminal conduct .
f. Salvadoran Kilmar Ábrego García
Deported in error in March 2025, later returned by court order. Charged with human smuggling—his case is now before the Supreme Court .
3. Enforcement Tactics & Controversies
- Workplace & courthouse raids: Widespread in cities like LA, Chicago, Houston, targeting everyday public spaces .
- Mass interior operations: Raids occurred in Atlanta, Boston, Denver, NYC, Newark, and more, rounding up hundreds .
- Guantánamo detentions: Plans emerged to transfer up to 9,000 asylum seekers there under a new crackdown .
- Masked agents: ICE officers wore masks during LA raids, sparking backlash over anonymity and transparency .
4. Legal & Social Backlash
- Civil rights groups, courts, and local officials have raised alarms over warrantless arrests, racial profiling, and trampling rights in “sensitive spaces” .
- Sanctuary city resistance (e.g., California, New York) has hindered ICE cooperation .
- Immigration activists have organized large-scale protests—like in LA where over 100 arrests took place—and challenged detentions via legal mechanisms .
Final Takeaway
The Trump administration’s return to power in 2025 brought a marked intensification of ICE’s interior enforcement. With a sharp rise in workplace, courthouse, and home raids, ICE has targeted both criminal and non-criminal migrants—leading to high-profile detentions, legal challenges, and public outcry. The strategy reflects Trump’s aggressive immigration agenda, yet also sparks renewed debate over legal boundaries, civil rights, and the role of enforcement in American communities.
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