During a period of intensified immigration enforcement, masked immigration officials were frequently seen patrolling the streets of Minneapolis. Concurrently, thousands faced arrests weekly across Texas, Florida, and California.
According to top Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, the strategy was termed “Turn and burn”, reflecting the aggressive enforcement approach witnessed at places like restaurant kitchens and bus stops.
Data from the UC Berkeley Deportation Data Project, analyzed by The Associated Press, reveals that in December, nationwide arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents reached nearly 40,000, with similar figures reported the following month.
Concerns over the aggressive tactics grew, particularly following the January killings of two American citizens by immigration officers in Minneapolis, leading to a reshuffle among top immigration officials. Subsequent weeks showed an average national decline of 12% in ICE arrests.
Public opinion, as indicated by polling data, suggested that the enforcement actions in Minnesota were excessive, possibly influencing the dismissal of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in early March.
Regional Variations in Arrest Patterns
Following the Minneapolis incidents involving Renee Good and Alex Pretti, Bovino was replaced by Border czar Tom Homan. Homan announced a reduction in immigration enforcement in Minnesota on February 4.
Analysis of ICE records indicates an average of 7,369 weekly arrests nationwide in the five weeks following Homan’s announcement, down from 8,347 weekly in the previous period. These numbers, while lower, were still elevated compared to the early phase of President Donald Trump’s second term, and significantly higher than during the Biden administration.
Arrest numbers varied regionally. Increases were noted in states like Kentucky, Indiana, North Carolina, and Florida, with Kentucky experiencing a more than twofold rise in weekly arrests by early March. Conversely, other states, including Minnesota and Texas, saw significant decreases.
Targeting Beyond Criminals
The Trump administration has maintained that its focus is on removing the most dangerous illegal aliens, described by the president as “the worst of the worst.”
While some arrests involve serious offenders, the situation is complex. Many detained by ICE were already incarcerated, yet a significant number had no criminal record.
Nationwide, 46% of those arrested by ICE in the five weeks before February 4 lacked criminal charges or convictions, a figure that dropped to 41% in the subsequent five weeks. However, this remains above the 35% average during Trump’s return to office. In some states, the proportion of noncriminals arrested even increased.
Evolving Enforcement Tactics
Federal court filings across the U.S. suggest that despite a decrease in activity, the Trump administration’s deportation efforts continue robustly.
One case involves a 21-year-old Honduran man, with no criminal history, seeking release after his arrest on February 22 during a traffic stop in suburban San Diego. He is a father to three U.S. citizen children. His arrest followed ICE surveillance.
Another case concerns a 33-year-old Venezuelan doctor in South Texas, arrested with her U.S. citizen daughter while heading to her husband’s asylum hearing. Officials cited her visa overstay as the reason for her detention.
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick from the American Immigration Council notes an observable reduction in arrest and detention figures, yet cautions against assuming these trends are lasting. “The Trump administration says: ‘We’re not slowing down,’ ‘Nothing has changed,’” he stated, “But it’s very clear that they have pulled back from some of the tactics of Operation Metro Surge.”
