Immigration Raids Persist Across US Despite Public Outcry

Advocates report surge in discreet ICE arrests, sparking fear in immigrant communities

Apr. 11, 2026 at 12:24pm

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A photorealistic painting of a lone immigration officer standing in the shadows of a dimly lit urban alleyway, with warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows creating a sense of quiet tension and unease.The discreet, rapid-fire immigration arrests occurring across the country have left vulnerable communities in a state of constant fear and uncertainty.Los Angeles Today

Despite the public outcry over recent immigration raids in Minneapolis, federal agents continue to conduct covert operations across the United States, making arrests at locations like Home Depot parking lots, taco truck stops, and even outside churches. While high-profile crackdowns have declined in some cities, advocates report a rise in stealthy, rapid-fire detentions that make it difficult for legal aid or protesters to intervene.

Why it matters

The ongoing, under-the-radar immigration enforcement actions are sowing fear and disrupting daily life for vulnerable immigrant communities, deterring people from going to work, school, or seeking medical care. This highlights the continued tension between federal immigration policies and sanctuary city efforts, as well as the challenges of overseeing and holding accountable clandestine enforcement tactics.

The details

In recent weeks, ICE agents have been spotted arresting day laborers in San Diego, chasing down a taco truck vendor outside a church in Los Angeles, and detaining immigrants during traffic stops in Washington D.C. These rapid, discreet operations have become the new norm, replacing the more public, extended raids seen earlier. Advocates say ICE is now favoring a 'smash and grab' approach, making arrests within minutes before legal responders or protesters can intervene.

  • In late December, ICE agents detained a dozen people near a Home Depot in San Diego, with the entire operation taking just 5 minutes.
  • In November, Customs and Border Protection arrested dozens of people in a major operation in Charlotte, North Carolina.
  • Six months ago, Donald Trump ordered federal law enforcement onto the streets of Washington D.C., leading to a surge in immigration arrests that has since declined but left lasting impacts.

The players

Yliana Johansen-Méndez

The chief program officer of the Immigrant Defenders Law Center, a non-profit based in Los Angeles.

Alyssa Walker Keller

A coordinator for a statewide hotline in Portland, Oregon.

Madhvi Bahl

A core organizer of the Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid Network in Washington D.C.

Father Scott Santarosa

A Jesuit pastor in San Diego who helps run a program called Faith, which trains volunteers to accompany and pray with immigrants at their immigration hearings.

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What they’re saying

“There's less coverage of what's happening in LA, but the truth is, we haven't seen the number of arrests drop.”

— Yliana Johansen-Méndez, Chief Program Officer, Immigrant Defenders Law Center

“The impact on vulnerable immigrants is profound. It's a sense of being hunted.”

— Alyssa Walker Keller, Coordinator, Statewide Hotline

“All these people are now in detention or have been deported, and their families are suffering the consequences.”

— Madhvi Bahl, Core Organizer, Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid Network

“It feels like the new recruits are trained to see us as the enemy.”

— Father Scott Santarosa, Jesuit Pastor

What’s next

Immigrant advocates and legal aid organizations continue to monitor the situation and provide support to affected communities, while also pushing for greater transparency and accountability around federal immigration enforcement tactics.

The takeaway

Despite the public outcry over high-profile immigration raids, the reality is that discreet, rapid-fire arrests by federal agents continue to sow fear and disruption in immigrant communities across the United States. This highlights the ongoing tensions between federal immigration policies and local sanctuary efforts, as well as the challenges of overseeing clandestine enforcement operations.