Key Takeaways
• ICE signed 635 287(g) agreements across 40 states by May 29, 2025, tripling since late 2024.
• Operation Tidal Wave led to over 800 arrests, involving multiple federal and local agencies.
• ICE arrested 66,463 and removed 65,682 people in first 100 days of 2025 amid policy expansions.
Federal Immigration Crackdown Intensifies: ICE Expands 287(g) Partnerships and Launches Operation Tidal Wave
In May 2025, the United States 🇺🇸 has seen a dramatic shift in immigration enforcement. ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is now working with local law enforcement agencies in almost every corner of the country, aiming to carry out what President Trump calls “the largest mass deportation in history.” This new approach has led to a record number of local-federal partnerships, aggressive enforcement actions, and growing controversy in communities nationwide.
What’s Happening: The New ICE Strategy
Who: ICE, local police and sheriffs, federal agencies, and the Trump administration
What: Mass expansion of immigration enforcement through local partnerships and new operations
When: As of May 29, 2025, with rapid changes since late 2024
Where: Across 40 states in the United States 🇺🇸
Why: To increase deportations and fulfill campaign promises
How: By signing more 287(g) agreements, launching coordinated operations, and removing previous restrictions on enforcement locations
Let’s break down what these changes mean, how they work, and what the effects are for immigrants, local agencies, and the broader public.
ICE’s 287(g) Programs: Local Police as Immigration Enforcers
ICE has signed 635 Memorandums of Agreement (MOAs) for 287(g) programs as of May 29, 2025, covering 40 states. This is more than triple the number from late 2024, marking the largest expansion in the program’s history.
What is the 287(g) Program?
The 287(g) program, created in 1996, allows ICE to give local police and sheriffs the power to enforce federal immigration laws. Officers who join the program can:
- Question people about their immigration status
- Detain individuals suspected of being in the country without legal status
- Start removal (deportation) proceedings
There are three main models under 287(g):
- Jail Enforcement Model (JEM): Officers screen and detain people at local jails when they are booked for other offenses.
- Task Force Model: Officers can enforce immigration law during regular police work, such as traffic stops or responding to calls.
- Warrant Officer Model: Officers serve federal immigration warrants.
How Do Local Agencies Join?
1. MOA Signing: The local agency signs a Memorandum of Agreement with ICE.
2. Training: Officers receive ICE training, which has recently been shortened from four weeks to just one week for faster deployment.
3. Enforcement: Deputized officers start carrying out immigration enforcement duties.
4. Detention and Transfer: Officers can detain people for ICE pickup or issue notices to appear in immigration court.
5. Legal Indemnification: The Trump administration is working to protect officers from lawsuits related to their immigration enforcement actions.
For more details on the 287(g) program, you can visit the official ICE 287(g) Program Information page.
Operation Tidal Wave: The First Major Sweep
Operation Tidal Wave is the first large-scale enforcement operation under the new 287(g) expansion. In its first coordinated sweep, it led to over 800 arrests across several states. This operation involved not only local police and sheriffs but also the Texas National Guard, DEA, Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Marshals, ATF, State Department, and IRS.
Key Features of Operation Tidal Wave:
– Coordinated raids in homes, workplaces, schools, churches, and during traffic stops
– Use of new data-sharing tools to quickly identify and locate undocumented immigrants
– Involvement of multiple federal and state agencies to increase manpower and resources
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, Operation Tidal Wave marks a turning point in how ICE uses local and federal resources together, making enforcement much more widespread and visible.
Surge in Arrests and Deportations
The numbers show just how much ICE activity has increased:
- 66,463 arrests and 65,682 removals in the first 100 days of 2025
- 75% of arrests involved people with criminal records, according to ICE
- Total deportations: The Trump administration claims about 140,000 deportations as of April 2025, but independent estimates suggest the real number may be closer to 70,000
- 287(g) agreements: 635 signed, covering 40 states
- Operation Tidal Wave: Over 800 arrests in its first sweep
In Charlotte, North Carolina, advocacy groups have reported a sharp increase in ICE detentions and hotline calls since mid-May 2025. Calls to the local ICE-related hotline jumped from just 2–4 per week to over 133 in a matter of weeks.
Policy Changes: Where and How ICE Operates
Broader Enforcement Scope:
The Trump administration has reversed earlier restrictions, now allowing ICE to conduct raids in places that were previously considered “off-limits,” such as:
- Schools
- Hospitals
- Places of worship
This means that people can now be detained by ICE or deputized officers almost anywhere, not just at jails or during criminal investigations.
Federal Mobilization:
ICE is not working alone. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has brought in:
- Local police and sheriffs
- Texas National Guard
- Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
- Bureau of Prisons
- U.S. Marshals
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
- State Department
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
This broad mobilization is designed to make immigration enforcement faster and more effective.
Community Impact: Fear, Confusion, and Disruption
Immigrant communities across the United States 🇺🇸 are feeling the effects of these changes. Reports from advocacy groups and local officials show:
- Increased fear and anxiety: People are afraid to leave their homes, take their children to school, or go to the doctor.
- Arrests at sensitive locations: Detentions have been reported outside homes, schools, churches, and during routine traffic stops.
- Family separation: Many families are being split apart, with parents detained or deported while children remain behind.
- Chilling effect on crime reporting: People are less likely to report crimes or cooperate with police, fearing that any contact could lead to deportation.
- Economic disruption: Industries like agriculture, construction, and hospitality are seeing labor shortages as workers are detained or deported.
In Charlotte, North Carolina, the surge in ICE activity has led to confusion and concern among both immigrants and local officials. The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office has raised alarms about the lack of communication from ICE and the risks to public safety when raids happen without warning.
Legal and Civil Rights Concerns
Legal Risks for Local Agencies:
Many counties may not fully understand the legal risks of helping ICE. Some federal courts have ruled that holding people for ICE without a valid warrant is unconstitutional. This means local agencies could face lawsuits if they detain someone based only on an ICE request.
Mistaken Detentions:
There have been reports of U.S. citizens being mistakenly detained or even deported because of errors in ICE databases or confusion during raids.
Civil Rights Issues:
Groups like the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) warn that local involvement in immigration enforcement can lead to:
- Racial profiling: Officers may target people based on appearance or language
- Loss of community trust: Immigrants may avoid police, making communities less safe
- Legal liability: Local governments could be sued for wrongful detentions
Multiple Perspectives: Supporters and Opponents
Supporters of the Expansion argue that:
- Local partnerships make communities safer by removing people with criminal records
- The approach fulfills campaign promises and responds to public demand for stricter enforcement
- Deputizing local officers gives ICE more resources to carry out its mission
Opponents say that:
- The policy causes fear and family separation, harming children and communities
- Civil rights are at risk, with increased racial profiling and wrongful detentions
- The economy suffers as key industries lose workers
- Trust in local police is damaged, making it harder to keep communities safe
Local Officials are divided. Some support the new partnerships, while others worry about public safety, legal risks, and the impact on community relations.
How Local Law Enforcement Becomes Part of ICE Efforts
Here’s a step-by-step look at how local police and sheriffs join ICE’s deportation efforts:
- MOA Signing: The local agency signs a Memorandum of Agreement with ICE under Section 287(g).
- Training: Officers complete ICE training, now shortened to one week.
- Enforcement Models: Agencies choose between Jail Enforcement, Task Force, or Warrant Officer models.
- Detention and Transfer: Deputized officers can detain people for ICE pickup or issue notices to appear in immigration court.
- Legal Indemnification: The Trump administration is working to protect officers from lawsuits related to immigration enforcement.
Tom Homan, President Trump’s “border czar,” has promised sheriffs that training will be faster and that officers will be legally protected if they face lawsuits.
Background: How We Got Here
The 287(g) Program was created in 1996 to let ICE share its powers with local police. Over the years, the program has grown and shrunk depending on who is president. Under President Trump, the program has expanded more than ever before.
Sanctuary Policies:
Some cities and counties have passed laws to limit cooperation with ICE, arguing that it’s better for public safety and community trust. However, most counties in the United States 🇺🇸 still work with ICE in some way.
Policy Reversals:
President Trump has reversed many of the restrictions put in place by previous administrations, now encouraging aggressive enforcement and broad local participation.
What’s Next: Future Outlook and Pending Changes
Further Expansion Expected:
ICE and DHS are still recruiting more local partners and making it easier for officers to join the 287(g) program.
Legal Challenges Ahead:
Civil rights groups are preparing lawsuits over constitutional violations, wrongful detentions, and the use of local resources for federal enforcement.
Federal-State Conflict:
States with sanctuary laws, like California 🇺🇸, Illinois 🇺🇸, and Oregon 🇺🇸, may resist federal pressure, leading to legal and political battles.
Congressional Action:
Pending bills in Congress (House Bill 318, Senate Bill 153) would require sheriffs and state law enforcement to cooperate with ICE, possibly overriding local sanctuary policies.
Practical Guidance for Immigrants and Communities
If you or someone you know may be affected by these changes, here are some steps you can take:
- Know your rights: You have the right to remain silent and to ask for a lawyer if you are detained.
- Stay informed: Follow updates from trusted sources and local advocacy groups.
- Prepare a family plan: Make arrangements for children and important documents in case of detention.
- Contact local organizations: Groups like the Carolina Migrant Network and the Immigrant Legal Resource Center can provide help and information.
For the latest official statistics and updates, visit the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Statistics page.
Conclusion: A New Era of Immigration Enforcement
The expansion of ICE’s 287(g) programs and the launch of Operation Tidal Wave mark a major change in how immigration laws are enforced in the United States 🇺🇸. With local police now playing a bigger role, and with raids happening in more places, the effects are being felt in communities across the country. Supporters believe these actions will make the country safer, while opponents warn of fear, family separation, and legal risks.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, the coming months will likely bring even more changes, legal battles, and debates over the future of immigration enforcement in the United States 🇺🇸. For immigrants, local agencies, and the broader public, staying informed and prepared is more important than ever.
Learn Today
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) → U.S. federal agency enforcing immigration laws and overseeing deportations.
287(g) Program → A 1996 agreement authorizing local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws.
MOA (Memorandum of Agreement) → A formal contract establishing partnership terms between ICE and local agencies.
Operation Tidal Wave → A large-scale coordinated enforcement action involving multiple agencies leading to 800+ arrests.
Jail Enforcement Model (JEM) → A 287(g) model where officers detain immigrants during the local jail booking process.
This Article in a Nutshell
In 2025, ICE massively expanded 287(g) partnerships, empowering local officers for immigration enforcement. Operation Tidal Wave made over 800 arrests nationwide, marking intensified, coordinated raids amid broader policy reversals affecting immigrant communities across 40 states.
— By VisaVerge.com
