And whether the Trump administration is actually only detaining criminals.
President Trump campaigned on a promise to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history, and he wasted no time following through on that once in office.
During the first week of his second presidency, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and partner agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, arrested about 7,300 undocumented immigrants. With the Department of Homeland Security now lifting restrictions on arrests near sensitive locations like schools and places of worship, many people have been unexpectedly detained.
However, the mass deportation efforts have come with complications. While the Trump administration has framed the crackdown as targeting criminals, there are growing concerns over the detention of law-abiding migrants and those with legal permits. Officials have yet to release specific data separating those with criminal histories from those without, leaving uncertainty about who exactly is being detained.
The scope of the operation remains unclear, as the number of people at risk of deportation—and separation from their families — continues to grow. Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, told NBC News there’s no set quota, but the goal is clear: “get as many criminals as possible.”
Amid ongoing raids, here’s a look at the major cities where arrests have taken place.
New York City
Donning a protective vest, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem joined agents from Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement for a series of early morning raids in The Bronx.
While such operations are rarely publicized, let alone celebrated, Noem took to X to praise ICE for removing what she called “dirtbags off the streets.” In another post, she shared a video confirming that a suspect had been taken into custody on charges of kidnapping, assault, and burglary. At least 18 other undocumented immigrants were also detained, including a suspect reportedly on the FBI’s list of suspected terrorists. However, not all those arrested had violent criminal records.
Notably, the New York City Police Department played a limited role in the operation. While some NYPD officers were present at the scene, state laws and local policies prohibited the department from participating in civil immigration enforcement, which meant they did not enter any apartments. However, Mayor Eric Adams later stated that he directed officers to coordinate with federal authorities to support the operation and ensure public safety.
“As I’ve said repeatedly, we will not hesitate to partner with federal authorities to bring violent criminals to justice — just as we have done for years,” Adams said. “Our commitment to protecting this city’s law-abiding residents, both citizens and immigrants, remains unwavering.”
Miami
The Miami office of Homeland Security Investigations announced that federal law enforcement agencies carried out multiple immigration enforcement operations. This came as ICE agents in Miami reported arresting several undocumented migrants on various charges across South Florida, including in Broward and Martin counties.
In a post on X, the agency praised its collaboration with the Justice Department, stating the efforts were part of enforcing “U.S. immigration laws and ensuring the safety of our communities.”
Those arrested faced a wide range of charges, including a man with a decades-old drug trafficking conviction and another held on a pending aggravated assault charge. However, concerns are mounting that innocent people are being swept up in the raids. One man told CBS News Miami that ICE detained his wife during a raid in Brownsville, despite her having a scheduled court date and being in the process of obtaining U.S. citizenship.
“It’s despicable what they’re doing right now,” he said.
Chicago
Homan was on the ground in Chicago with Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove to oversee the large-scale, unprecedented deportation operation.
Homan said among those arrested, six had been convicted of serious offenses, including two individuals with convictions for murder and aggravated sexual battery, as well as several gang members.
As in New York City, Chicago police didn’t directly participate in the ICE operation. This was due to Chicago’s sanctuary city ordinance and Illinois’ statewide Way Forward Act, which prohibits local law enforcement from cooperating with federal deportation authorities. However, Mayor Brandon Johnson noted that the city’s police worked closely with city officials and urged residents to “know their constitutional rights.”
This follows Homan’s threat to take legal action against Mayor Johnson if he refused to cooperate. Despite this threat, state officials have unequivocally pledged to protect their residents, regardless of their legal status. During a recent interview, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker stated that while he supports deporting people convicted of violent crimes, he opposes targeting those who are following the law. “These are not individuals causing problems in our country,” he said. “What we need is a pathway to citizenship for them.”
Los Angeles
Federal law enforcement agencies in Los Angeles, including Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration, said they have been coordinating immigration enforcement efforts.
Matthew Allen, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s LA field division, shared several photos on the agency’s social media platforms showing uniformed officers detaining individuals in an undisclosed Los Angeles neighborhood.
However, since the City Council formally adopted a sanctuary city ordinance late last year, no city resources or local police officers were involved in the raids. Several other California cities have also been targeted throughout the state, with known ICE raids in San Diego and San Francisco.
Atlanta
The DEA’s Atlanta office said its team participated in an operation to support the Justice Department, Department of Homeland Security, and other federal law enforcement partners in their immigration enforcement efforts.
They arrested one undocumented immigrant, Wilson Rogelio Velásquez Cruz, as he was attending church. According to NBC affiliate WXIA of Atlanta, he first arrived in the U.S. in 2022 with his wife and three children under a work permit while awaiting a pending asylum case. He had four more years left on his permit.
Several local advocacy groups have spoken out about the raids. Criticizing Trump’s efforts, Latino advocacy organizer Jerry Gonzalez told Atlanta News First these arrests were meant to “spread fear and terrorize our community.”
This is far from a comprehensive list — these targeted ICE raids are also taking place in smaller cities nationwide, spanning locations from Denver and Seattle to Dallas and San Juan, Puerto Rico. As these operations expand, their effects on communities across the country only intensify, sparking concerns about the wider implications of such enforcement actions.
