Immigration Arrests Surge 1500% in San Diego Region

Federal immigration agents have dramatically increased arrests in San Diego and Imperial counties, surpassing even the crackdown in Los Angeles.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 11:07am

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Government data shows a nearly 1500% increase in immigration arrests in the San Diego region from May to October 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. The arrests, which have included people with no criminal records, have sparked fears among immigrant communities and activists that San Diego could be the next target for a major immigration enforcement operation by the Trump administration.

Why it matters

The surge in immigration arrests in the San Diego region, which has historically been seen as more welcoming to immigrants than other parts of the country, highlights the Trump administration's aggressive approach to immigration enforcement, even in so-called "sanctuary cities." The arrests have eroded trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement, raising concerns about the impact on public safety and the resilience of democratic institutions.

The details

Federal immigration officers arrested about 4,500 people for civil immigration violations between May and October 2025 in the San Diego area, a 1500% increase compared to the same period in 2024 when nearly 300 such arrests occurred. By September 2025, arrests in the San Diego region surpassed those in the Los Angeles area, where ICE activity had surged the previous summer. Many of the arrests have occurred at immigration check-ins and courthouses, which critics say violates due process rights. The data also shows that only 25% of those arrested between May and mid-October 2025 had past criminal convictions, compared to over 60% in the same months of the final year of the Biden administration.

  • In May, ICE agents stormed a small neighborhood restaurant in the upscale South Park neighborhood of San Diego.
  • In July, community members clashed with agents from Homeland Security Investigations outside the Mesa Vista Apartments in Linda Vista.
  • In August, ICE arrested a parent waiting to pick up his child from Linda Vista Elementary School.

The players

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency responsible for immigration enforcement and deportations.

Alliance San Diego

A community human rights organization that works to hold federal law enforcement accountable, including Border Patrol.

Union del Barrio

A group of volunteers who patrol neighborhoods in San Diego to warn Latino, Filipino, and Vietnamese community members about ICE activity in the area.

Tom Homan

The White House "border czar" who visited the San Diego border with U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott in December.

Milagros

A woman from Venezuela who was nervous about attending her immigration check-in at the federal courthouse in San Diego with her 5-year-old son.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

“As we bring 10,000 more agents on…you haven't seen anything yet. Wait til' next year.”

— Tom Homan, White House 'border czar' (N/A)

“If you wanna be a sanctuary city, you're gonna get exactly what you don't want. More agents in the community and more non-criminals arrested.”

— Tom Homan, White House 'border czar' (N/A)

“They're just putting numbers on the board, and they're doing so in a way that is not just irresponsible, but is inhumane. There is no doubt that public trust is eroding in real time in the institutions of our government and that has an impact on the resiliency of our democracy.”

— Andrea Guerrero, Executive Director, Alliance San Diego (N/A)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This surge in immigration arrests in the San Diego region, even in so-called "sanctuary cities," highlights the Trump administration's aggressive approach to immigration enforcement and the erosion of trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement, raising concerns about the impact on public safety and the resilience of democratic institutions.