Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents have sharply increased immigration raids across the United States 🇺🇸 in 2025, leading to the arrest of over 109,000 people in just the first half of the year. These actions have included the detention of U.S. citizens, raising urgent questions about civil rights, racial profiling, and the risks of wrongful arrest.
ICE’s stepped-up enforcement comes with a daily arrest quota of about 3,000 people, regardless of whether those arrested pose any threat. This has led to aggressive workplace raids, arrests in communities, and even detentions at courthouses. Many of those taken into custody have no criminal record, and some are U.S. citizens who were mistakenly identified as undocumented immigrants. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the sharp rise in arrests of non-criminals and U.S. citizens has sparked a national debate about the balance between public safety and individual rights.
Where and How ICE Raids Are Happening
Most ICE arrests in 2025 have taken place in border and southern states. Texas alone accounts for nearly a quarter of all arrests, followed by Florida (11%), California (7%), Georgia (4%), and Arizona (3%). These numbers show a clear focus on areas with large immigrant populations. ICE agents now conduct “street arrests” in public places, homes, and workplaces. Since January 20, 2025, there have been about 15,000 such arrests of people with no criminal convictions, charges, or removal orders. Nearly half of these happened in June, and about 90% of those arrested are from Latin America.
These street arrests often happen without warning and can involve people simply going about their daily lives. The risk of racial profiling is high, and some U.S. citizens have been caught up in these sweeps because they “look” or “sound” foreign. Once detained, these individuals face automatic detention, as ICE eliminated bond hearings on July 7, 2025. This means that even U.S. citizens who are wrongfully arrested must fight for their release in court, often without immediate access to legal help.
Policy Changes and Legal Context
The current administration has made several changes to immigration enforcement policies. Presidential Proclamation 10773, amended in 2024, restricts who can apply for asylum and speeds up the removal process at the southern border. While Customs and Border Protection (CBP) focuses on border enforcement, ICE is responsible for arrests inside the country. ICE’s new policies include:
- Daily arrest quotas: Agents must meet a target of 3,000 arrests each day.
- No bond hearings: Detainees are held automatically unless they challenge their detention in court.
- Reduced parole and legal aid: Fewer people are released on parole, and there is less help for those seeking legal representation.
These changes have made it much harder for people, including U.S. citizens, to secure their release if they are wrongfully detained. The elimination of bond hearings means that even those with strong claims to U.S. citizenship or legal status may spend weeks or months in detention before their cases are resolved.
Official Responses and Public Concerns
ICE Acting Director Todd M. Lyons has praised these enforcement efforts, saying they protect public safety by removing “criminal aliens.” However, he has not addressed the growing number of U.S. citizens and non-criminal immigrants caught up in these raids. CBP Acting Commissioner Pete Flores has pointed to a sharp drop in illegal border crossings as proof that stricter enforcement is working. In May 2025, CBP released zero illegal border crossers into the interior, compared to 62,000 in May 2024.
Advocacy groups and legal experts, however, warn that the focus on meeting arrest quotas and the lack of bond hearings have led to serious civil rights violations. They point to cases where U.S. citizens have been detained for days or weeks before proving their status. These groups argue that the current approach encourages racial profiling and undermines trust in law enforcement.
Impact on U.S. Citizens and Immigrant Communities
The most troubling effect of these policies is the detention of U.S. citizens during immigration raids. Mistaken identity, language barriers, and profiling can all lead to wrongful arrests. Once detained, U.S. citizens face the same hurdles as non-citizens: no bond hearings, limited access to legal aid, and the burden of proving their status. This can mean lost wages, emotional distress, and long separations from family.
Immigrant families, even those with legal status, now live in fear of sudden raids at home, work, or even at immigration court appointments. The removal of bond hearings means that anyone arrested must go through a lengthy court process to challenge their detention. This increases the time spent in detention and the cost of legal defense.
How ICE and CBP Operate
- ICE: Handles arrests inside the United States 🇺🇸, including at workplaces, homes, and immigration courts. ICE does not always notify families or lawyers before detaining someone.
- CBP: Focuses on border enforcement, initial processing of asylum seekers, and expedited removals. CBP does not conduct interior arrests more than 100 miles from the border.
Detainees arrested by ICE now face automatic detention, with very limited chances for parole. They must file legal challenges to secure their release, which can be a slow and costly process.
Background and Policy Shifts
The surge in ICE arrests marks a sharp change from 2024, when enforcement was less aggressive under President Biden. The current administration has made strict immigration enforcement a top priority, expanding arrest quotas and cutting back on parole and legal aid. This has led to more arrests of non-criminal immigrants and U.S. citizens, drawing legal challenges and public outcry.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next?
As of August 2025, there are no plans to bring back bond hearings or lower arrest quotas. ICE and CBP are expected to continue their tough enforcement approach. Advocacy groups are pushing for more oversight and reforms to prevent wrongful detention of U.S. citizens. Legal challenges may increase as more people come forward with stories of mistaken arrest and detention.
What Can Affected Individuals Do?
- Know your rights: U.S. citizens and immigrants should carry proof of status and know their legal rights during encounters with ICE.
- Seek legal help: If detained, ask for a lawyer and do not sign any documents without legal advice.
- Contact advocacy groups: Organizations can provide support and help challenge wrongful detentions.
For more information on your rights and the latest enforcement updates, visit the ICE official website.
The rise in ICE immigration raids and the detention of U.S. citizens highlight the urgent need for oversight and reform. As enforcement continues to intensify, staying informed and prepared is more important than ever for all communities.
This Article in a Nutshell
