ICE Agents Join D.C. Police in Targeting Immigrant Moped Riders

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) ICE agents are riding along with D.C. police in joint operations that target immigrants during moped traffic stops, a major shift confirmed by the White House after President Trump’s federal takeover of the nation’s capital. In the past week alone, officials say the effort led to over 200 arrests, with a focus on delivery workers who rely on mopeds for fast-service jobs across the city. D.C.’s long-standing sanctuary policy—which once limited cooperation with federal immigration authorities—has been set aside under the new federal control.

DHS officials say the teams use routine checks during traffic stops—licenses, registration, and insurance—to verify immigration status. If ICE flags a person as undocumented or with unresolved immigration matters, agents are detaining that person on the spot. The White House has defended the approach as stricter enforcement under federal authority in the United States 🇺🇸.

City officials, however, say the collaboration with ICE agents directly violates D.C.’s prior sanctuary rules and will deepen mistrust between police and immigrant neighborhoods. Some local officers have also voiced discomfort, noting that mixing local policing with federal immigration enforcement can blur roles and jeopardize community cooperation in everyday public safety work.

Videos recorded between August 16–18, 2025, show masked officers, some in unmarked cars, forcing several moped drivers to the ground and handcuffing them in busy streets. Witnesses report some officers refused to identify themselves. DHS spokespeople say many ICE officers now wear masks to reduce the chance of being doxxed and to protect their families, and they argue unmarked vehicles are needed for safety and operational reasons.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, these joint operations have spread fear among delivery workers who are often on the road for long shifts and cannot risk sudden detention. Advocates say immigrants are changing routes, avoiding known police checkpoints, or skipping work, which cuts family income and leaves restaurants and customers scrambling. Legal aid groups report a wave of calls about rights during traffic stops and how to find detained relatives quickly.

The Pentagon has also begun recruiting civilian employees to help with immigration raids, signaling a larger federal mobilization beyond ICE and local police. That step marks an expansion of manpower at a moment when the federal government is asserting more control over on-the-ground enforcement in the capital, with officials hinting that similar tactics could move into other cities with sanctuary policies.

City leaders and civil rights lawyers warn the current approach raises constitutional questions about due process, local self-governance, and potential racial profiling. They point to the use of unmarked vehicles and masked officers as examples of a lack of transparency that makes it hard for the public to tell which agency is acting—and whether those actions meet legal standards. Several organizations are preparing lawsuits to test the legality of the federal override of D.C. law and the joint ICE-police traffic stops.

How the joint stops work

During the stops, officers collect a driver’s license, registration, and insurance. ICE agents use that information to run status checks. If records show the person is undocumented, has an outstanding removal order, or other unresolved immigration issues, agents detain the driver.

Because many delivery workers rely on mopeds, they are seeing the heaviest enforcement attention. The arrests—more than 200 in recent days—have taken place across multiple neighborhoods, according to the White House.

Community groups say these tactics hit gig economy workers hard. A single stop can end in detention, job loss, and separation from family, especially for those supporting children or sending money to relatives abroad. Restaurant owners report late orders, canceled shifts, and staff shortages as workers stay off the road or leave the city. Advocates also warn that some immigrants now avoid reporting crimes or cooperating with police out of fear that a witness interview could lead to immigration checks.

Rights, risks, and practical steps

Legal experts emphasize that people stopped by police still have rights, even when ICE agents are present. Important points and recommended actions include:

• You have the right to remain silent. You can say, “I choose to remain silent.”
• You can ask if you are free to leave. If yes, walk away calmly.
• You have the right to speak with a lawyer. If detained, say, “I want a lawyer.”
• Do not show false documents or make false statements.
• Carry copies of your ID and insurance. Keep them accessible so you can present them calmly.
• Follow traffic rules closely if you are on a moped to reduce the chance of a stop.
• If officers are masked or in unmarked cars, ask for names and badge numbers if it feels safe to do so.
• If you see or suffer rough treatment, try to note details—time, place, car plates, and any agency markings—so a lawyer can review your case.

Advocates urge families to plan ahead. Recommended preparedness steps:

1. Store emergency contacts both in a phone and on paper.
2. List children’s caregivers and share that information with trusted people.
3. Keep key documents in a safe, accessible place.
4. If a relative is detained, call local legal aid groups, who can often point you to emergency clinics.
5. Report discrimination to the D.C. Office of Human Rights when appropriate.

Important: Officials say the federal government will keep the current strategy in place and may expand it. That means immigrants who drive for work, especially delivery workers on mopeds, face a steady risk of arrest during everyday traffic stops.

Community impact and responses

• Delivery workers report changing routes, avoiding checkpoints, or skipping shifts, which reduces household income and disrupts local businesses.
• Restaurants and customers are experiencing late orders and staff shortages.
• Legal aid groups are fielding increased calls about rights during stops and how to locate detained relatives.
• D.C. community groups are holding know-your-rights sessions near popular delivery hubs and at churches.
• Faith leaders, labor organizers, and neighborhood advocates are planning more public events and trainings as the crackdown continues.

Groups advising workers recommend:

• Travel in pairs when possible.
• Keep phones charged.
• Let a friend know routes and shift times.

Legal and governance issues

City leaders and civil rights lawyers argue the joint operations raise serious legal questions:

• Potential violations of due process and local self-governance.
• Increased risk of racial profiling and loss of transparency when officers are masked or driving unmarked vehicles.
• Difficulty for the public in identifying which agency is acting and whether actions meet legal standards.

Several organizations are preparing lawsuits to challenge the federal override of D.C. law and the legality of the joint ICE-police traffic stops. If courts accept those claims, the scope and practice of these operations could change.

For now, arrests continue and legal service providers expect increased demand in the weeks ahead.

For official agency contact information and detention inquiries related to these actions, see the ICE Washington Field Office page: https://www.ice.gov/contact/field-offices/ero/washington.

As federal control underscores the divide between national policy and local practice, the uneasy partnership between ICE agents and city police—now openly visible at curbside—has turned routine traffic stops into life-changing encounters for many immigrants who keep the city’s delivery networks running.