During President Trump's immigration crackdown, there have been at least 13 shootings involving ICE and federal agents since September, with two fatalities, while the number of detainees increased by nearly 75 percent in 2025 to about 68,000 people. The number of individuals detained without criminal records rose by over 2,000 percent since the start of his administration. Private prison companies CoreCivic and The GEO Group saw a 13 percent increase in revenue in 2025, totaling $2 billion, and opened nine new detention centers for ICE.
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown filed a lawsuit to challenge the federal government's purchase of a warehouse near Williamsport, Maryland, intended to be converted into an ICE detention center without conducting the required environmental review or involving public and state consultation. The lawsuit alleges violations of the National Environmental Policy Act and Administrative Procedure Act, asserting that the purchase and proposed conversion bypass legal procedures and threaten local communities, environment, and public health. The case aims to prevent the construction of what would be a large detention facility in a small town with a population of just over 2,000.
Kristi Noem falsely claimed that ICE deported a cannibal who tried to eat his own arms, a story later confirmed by multiple federal law enforcement officials to be completely fabricated. Noem’s account, which she shared in June, was unconfirmed and lacked evidence, with officials stating it never happened. The story was used by Noem to illustrate alleged dangers of deportations under Trump, but it has been widely debunked as a falsehood.
Religious leaders in Washington state are increasingly concerned about immigration enforcement activities, with reports of ICE presence near churches and changes to protections for sensitive locations. Community organizations and faith groups are organizing responses, including posting signs demanding warrants and implementing de-escalation training, to ensure safe worship and support for undocumented or mixed-status individuals amid heightened ICE activity.
President Donald Trump assured governors during a White House meeting that he has no plans to surge federal immigration enforcement in states where it is not welcomed, emphasizing actions will only be taken where permissions are granted. Democratic governors expressed support for this stance, while some, like Maryland's Wes Moore, underscored concerns about unaccountable immigration enforcement actions, and others highlighted ongoing recovery needs and infrastructure projects. The meeting was disrupted by a Supreme Court ruling on tariffs, which Trump criticized, affecting discussions and overshadowing some agenda items.
80-year-old Santa Barbara attorney Doug Hayes was pepper-sprayed and tackled by ICE agents during a protest outside the county’s Probation Department offices. Hayes testified that he confronted the agents over their actions, accused them of misconduct, and expressed concern over civil rights violations. Despite experiencing the incident physically, he stated he was not traumatized but is considering pursuing a civil action against ICE.
In December 2025, over 2,000 ICE agents conducted raids in Minnesota, prompting residents in Minneapolis and Saint Paul to organize protests, document raids, and provide mutual aid to those targeted. Community efforts, along with legal actions and sustained protests, contributed to a decline in ICE operations in the area. Experts cite these community networks, which originated during the COVID pandemic and the aftermath of George Floyd's murder, as key in mobilizing resistance.
Crime analyst Mark McGuire, a retired homicide detective, reviewed the recent deaths of Minnesotans Renee Good and Alex Pretti by ICE agents. McGuire indicated that Good’s shooting involved potentially justifiable circumstances with blurred lines, while Pretti’s killing was unequivocally a murder. The Department of Justice is investigating Pretti’s death, and it has yet to examine Good’s case.
Last week, a protest called "ICE Out" was held in Lindenwold to oppose Trump's Immigration and Customs Enforcement policies, with Congressman Donald Norcross participating in the event.
The article discusses the impact of immigration enforcement by ICE on immigrant communities in the U.S., likening it to a second pandemic due to widespread fear, trauma, and disruptions to daily life. Families are sheltering at home, delaying medical care and schooling, with many children missing routine and special needs appointments, and some parents opting for home births due to safety concerns. Despite efforts by community organizations to provide support and the partial drawdown of immigration forces, the long-term mental health and educational toll continues, paralleling challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The article criticizes private prison companies like GEO Group and highlights their financial gains from immigration detention policies, suggesting that supporters of such systems, including Stephen Miller, are motivated by profit. It encourages local communities in Maine to oppose the construction of detention centers and urges individuals to investigate and divest from investments connected to private prisons. The author advocates for financial and community actions to oppose the privatization of detention facilities.
404 Media reports that ICE and CBP officials are using the free walkie-talkie app Zello to coordinate operations, including during the incident where a CBP officer shot a U.S. citizen in Chicago. Bodycam footage and user accounts suggest that Zello is utilized for communication among immigration enforcement personnel, with some channels referencing immigration and surveillance activities. The app has a history of being used by far-right groups and insurrectionists, and neither ICE nor CBP responded to requests for comment.
