- Introduction
- Operation ICE Wall: Targeting Commercial Vehicle Operators
- Similar ICE Operations Nationwide
- In-Depth: Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota
Introduction
In a major immigration enforcement initiative, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested over 650 individuals across West Virginia during a 15-day statewide surge dubbed Operation Country Roads. Running from January 5 to January 19, 2026, the operation involved surge teams deployed to key areas including Martinsburg, Moorefield, Morgantown, Beckley, Huntington, and Charleston, in collaboration with 14 partner agencies under the 287(g) program (see our detailed list of current 287(g) agreements between ICE and local authorities). This program enables trained local officers to perform immigration functions under ICE supervision, and West Virginia agencies accounted for more than 550 of the arrests, leading the nation in daily 287(g) immigration arrests on at least four days. ICE emphasized targeting threats to public safety, national security, and those who entered the country illegally, reflecting broader strategies under the Trump administration (for insights on ICE’s role in deportation and removal, refer to our comprehensive guide on deportation and removal defense).
Michael Rose, acting Field Office Director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in Philadelphia, highlighted the operation’s success: “This operation demonstrates how strong partnerships between ICE and West Virginia law enforcement agencies enhance public safety and the integrity of our immigration system. By training and supporting our partners across the state, we’ve expanded local capacity to identify, arrest and process illegal aliens while ensuring these authorities are exercised professionally and consistent with the law.” Governor Patrick Morrisey supported this through an executive order in early 2025, directing state law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration efforts, with 25 West Virginia agencies now holding 287(g) agreements (explore our coverage of ICE entering into 287(g) agreements with Texas counties as an example of similar expansions).
Jefferson County Sheriff Tom Hansen praised the collaboration: “The Sheriff’s Office was impressed with the professionalism and work ethic of the agents and how well they interacted with the citizens and local law enforcement officers. Working with such a high-caliber group of agents who were assigned to Jefferson County made the decision to support the initiative worthwhile. We are also gratified that through this program; we have had the opportunity to remove numerous dangerous criminals from our community.”
Operation ICE Wall: Targeting Commercial Vehicle Operators
A key component of the surge, Operation ICE Wall focused on individuals illegally operating commercial vehicles, resulting in over 25 arrests. Managed by ICE’s Philadelphia Field Office, it involved traffic stops and inspections for violations such as failing to halt at mandatory brake check stations or operating unsafe vehicles. The objective was to address public safety risks from those with prior removal orders or criminal records (for more on criminal grounds for deportability, see our article on Section 237 deportability statutes for general crimes).
Notable arrests included Sagar Singh, an Indian national apprehended on January 8 after citations for multiple vehicle infractions and a prior removal order. Another was Ling Yan, also known as Yang Ning, a Chinese national convicted of endangering the welfare of children in Ohio, taken into custody on January 11 with a final removal order. The operation also netted a convicted child sex abuser, drug possession offenders, and others. Additionally, eight individuals faced federal criminal charges following search warrants executed in Nitro on January 16 (learn about immigration civil enforcement priorities for gang participation and related criminal aliens in our dedicated post).
Similar ICE Operations Nationwide
Operation Country Roads exemplifies a nationwide pattern of intensified ICE enforcement in 2025 and 2026, often emphasizing criminal aliens and public safety threats through multi-agency partnerships. These surges have varied by state cooperation levels, with higher arrest rates in supportive areas like Texas and Florida, contrasted by contentious implementations in sanctuary jurisdictions. Overall, ICE has reported over 540,000 deportations since January 2025 (for broader context on ICE’s use of advanced tools in enforcement, including AI services, review our analysis of ICE’s growing web of AI for immigration enforcement and surveillance).
| Operation Name | Location | Duration | Key Details | Arrests |
| Operation Highway Sentinel | California (with similar efforts in Indiana, New York, Oklahoma) | Launched December 2025 | Targeted illegal alien truck drivers following deadly crashes linked to unauthorized commercial vehicle operators. Involved traffic stops and inspections on highways. | Over 100 in California; hundreds more in other states. |
| Operation Midway Blitz | Illinois (Chicago area) | September 2025 – ongoing | Honored Katie Abraham, killed by an undocumented driver. Focused on criminal illegal aliens in sanctuary jurisdictions. Led to significant crime rate drops per DHS, but sparked protests, clashes, and reports of aggressive tactics including shootings. | Over 1,600 in initial phase; thousands overall. |
| Houston Enforcement Surge | Texas (Southeast region) | October – November 2025 (during government shutdown) | Multi-agency effort targeting criminal aliens, including murderers, child predators, sex offenders, and gang members. Continued despite shutdown, emphasizing public safety. | Over 3,500. |
| Operation Metro Surge | Minnesota (Minneapolis-St. Paul, expanded statewide) | December 2025 – ongoing | Large-scale deployment of over 2,000 agents targeting criminal illegal aliens. Resulted in protests, confrontations, and fatal shootings of U.S. citizens, drawing national attention and legal challenges. | Over 3,000 by January 2026. |
In-Depth: Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota
One of the most prominent and controversial examples is Operation Metro Surge, launched by DHS in December 2025 and executed by ICE and CBP. Initially centered on the Minneapolis-St. Paul area before expanding statewide, it deployed over 3,000 agents and led to more than 3,000 arrests by late January 2026. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem described it as targeting “criminal illegal aliens” like murderers, rapists, and fraud perpetrators, tying it to investigations in Minnesota’s Somali-American community (for related discussions on immigration detention and transfers during enforcement actions, see our overview of ICE immigration detention transfer procedures).
Activities encompassed traffic stops, home raids, workplace arrests, and checkpoints, including in schools, hospitals, and airports. Arrestees spanned communities with convictions for homicide, sexual assault, and fraud, though reports noted detentions of U.S. citizens, legal residents, and children. Funded by a 2025 spending bill that doubled ICE agents and added $170 billion to DHS over four years, it was overseen initially by CBP Chief Gregory Bovino before Tom Homan took charge (details on ICE policies for special cases, such as detention of pregnant individuals, can be found in our article on ICE policy changes).
The operation sparked intense backlash, including daily protests with tens of thousands participating, general strikes, and clashes involving tear gas and arrests. Fatal incidents included the shootings of U.S. citizens Renee Nicole Macklin Good on January 7 and Alex Jeffrey Pretti on January 24, with videos contradicting official self-defense claims. Legal challenges from the ACLU, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, and local governments alleged constitutional violations, racial profiling, and excessive force, leading to court orders for releases and tactic limitations, though full halts were denied. Governor Tim Walz mobilized the National Guard amid threats of the Insurrection Act, underscoring tensions between federal enforcement and state resistance (for options like special rule cancellation of removal under NACARA for certain individuals facing deportation, consult our in-depth explanation).
These operations, from cooperative successes in West Virginia to fraught escalations in Minnesota, illustrate the administration’s push for interior enforcement amid varying local dynamics and national debates (issues for aliens granted deferral of removal, including ongoing detention concerns, are covered in our blog post on the topic).
Sources
- “ICE arrests over 650 illegal aliens across West Virginia with state, local police backing”
- “ICE Arrests Over 650 in West Virginia During 15-Day Immigration Surge”
- Various DHS press releases and news reports on Operation ICE Wall and similar surges (2025-2026).
- Reports from Breitbart, CNN, and The New York Times on Operation Metro Surge incidents and legal challenges.
- ICE official statements on nationwide deportation statistics and enforcement priorities under the Trump administration.
