ICE agents have begun conducting immigration enforcement operations at courthouses nationwide, targeting illegal immigrants during scheduled court appearances. The enforcement actions follow President Donald Trump’s directive to increase daily arrests, reversing the previous administration’s policies.
Videos from Manhattan and Chicago show plainclothes ICE agents escorting migrants from courthouses. Many of those detained were already under final removal orders or seeking legal status. Sixteen individuals were apprehended during the Manhattan operation.
An ICE spokesperson confirmed that the administration is ending catch-and-release policies. “Secretary Noem is reversing Biden’s catch and release policy that allowed millions of unvetted illegal aliens to be let loose on American streets,” the spokesperson said. “Most aliens who illegally entered the United States within the past two years are subject to expedited removals.”
ICE also emphasized that migrants with final removal orders are now being placed into expedited removal, as required by law. The agency is no longer allowing these individuals to remain in the U.S. under notices to appear.
In Chicago, enforcement outside the federal immigration courthouse led to chaotic scenes, with protesters confronting ICE agents. Migrants were removed in handcuffs as activists and city leaders tried to intervene.
Allison Cutler of NYLAG’s Immigration Protection Unit criticized the operations, claiming they target vulnerable individuals under supervision. “They are already checking in, they are already having appointments, most of them have ankle monitors,” she said, calling the courthouse arrests “a trap.”
The Trump administration has ordered ICE to meet a quota of 3,000 daily arrests. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller told Fox News the president plans to increase that number further.
