Since President Trump took office in January 2025, immigration enforcement in the U.S. has intensified dramatically. Armed and masked agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have been detaining suspected undocumented immigrants in major cities, often without identifying themselves.
Backed by a new $75 billion funding bill passed in July, ICE is expanding detention facilities, increasing surveillance capabilities, and ramping up arrests—now averaging 1,000 per day, a 268% rise from the previous year.
ICE has come under fire for allegedly sweeping up legal residents and even citizens, and for conducting raids in areas previously considered off-limits, like immigration courts. The use of unmarked vehicles and anonymous agents has drawn comparisons to secret police forces, with critics warning of constitutional overreach. Acting ICE director Todd M. Lyons defends the mask policy, citing a rise in assaults on agents.
Protests, especially in California, have escalated, with clashes in Los Angeles prompting federal deployment of National Guard and Marines despite opposition from state officials. Sanctuary policies in cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco are in direct conflict with the administration’s push for nationwide crackdowns. Trump has vowed to continue and expand these efforts, placing ICE at the core of his immigration strategy.
