ICE Detains Over 10,000 People in Five-Day Enforcement Surge

The agency’s aggressive strategy is currently setting a new standard of 2,000 daily arrests. While the administration maintains it is focusing on high-priority targets, attorneys across the country report a surge in detainees who lack criminal records. Among the recent cases cited is the detention of a 56-year-old Nigerian nun in McAllen, Texas, and the arrest of a Nicaraguan father in Miami during a routine check-in, despite his court hearing being scheduled for 2027.

Legal advocates are accusing the agency of flouting federal authority, particularly regarding a recent judicial order prohibiting arrests at immigration courthouses. In New York City, agents reportedly detained multiple individuals at 26 Federal Plaza and 290 Broadway, triggering legal filings from groups like Make the Road New York. Murad Awawdeh, president of the New York Immigration Coalition, described the agency’s conduct as "lawless and rogue" for its continued disregard for judicial mandates.

Internal enthusiasm for the campaign remains high among leadership. Marcos Charles, head of the deportation wing, praised staff for a "remarkable" weekend that saw 2,400 arrests. As the agency operates under acting director David Venturella, a former private prison executive, the administration has moved to solidify its control by nominating Lance Schroyer, a former Oklahoma state trooper, to lead the department permanently.