ICE Ramps Up Enforcement in Sanctuary Cities: What Immigrants Should Know

ICE Enforcement Is Increasing Nationwide

Recent reports indicate that ICE has significantly increased arrests across the United States. The Department of Homeland Security has described the current effort as a nationwide public-safety surge and has specifically identified sanctuary jurisdictions, including Illinois, California, New York, Minnesota, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, D.C.

Federal immigration enforcement is not limited to large enforcement operations. Arrests may occur during encounters with ICE, after release from local custody, at residences, or in connection with existing immigration cases. ICE reported nearly 51,000 arrests nationwide in August 2026, following record-setting arrest totals in June and July.

What Sanctuary Policies Do — and Do Not — Mean

The term “sanctuary city” generally refers to a jurisdiction that limits certain forms of cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. The specific policies vary from place to place.

These policies do not give an immigrant legal status or create immunity from federal immigration enforcement. ICE remains a federal agency and may conduct immigration arrests even when local officials do not assist federal authorities in the same way they might in other jurisdictions.

This distinction is particularly important in Illinois and the Chicago area. An immigrant should not assume that a sanctuary policy means an ICE arrest cannot occur. The person's individual immigration history remains important, including any prior removal order, pending case, missed hearing, or previous contact with immigration authorities.

Who May Face ICE Enforcement?

ICE enforcement can affect people with very different immigration histories. Some current enforcement efforts have emphasized people with criminal convictions or pending criminal matters, while reporting has also documented arrests of people without criminal convictions. The federal government's stated enforcement priorities and actual arrest activity can change over time.

• Final removal orders: A person with a final order of removal may be subject to detention and removal even if the order is several years old.
• Pending immigration cases: A pending application, petition, or court proceeding does not necessarily prevent ICE from making an arrest.
• Missed immigration court hearings: An in absentia removal order or other unresolved court issue can create significant enforcement concerns.
• Prior immigration or criminal history: Previous arrests, convictions, immigration violations, or prior removal proceedings may affect detention and available legal options.

Because immigration enforcement is highly fact-specific, a person should not rely solely on generalized statements about who ICE is currently targeting. The details of the individual's record and immigration history matter.

How Immigrants and Families Can Prepare

Families can take practical steps before an emergency occurs. The goal is to make sure important information and documents are available if a family member is arrested or detained.

1. Make copies of important immigration documents, including notices from USCIS and immigration court.
2. Find out whether there is a pending immigration case, appeal, or final removal order.
3. Keep the person's A-number and other identifying information in a secure place that a trusted family member can access.
4. Identify an immigration attorney or legal organization that can be contacted quickly if an arrest occurs.
5. Make a family plan for children, finances, medication, transportation, and other immediate responsibilities if a parent or caregiver is detained.

What to Do If Someone Is Detained

If a family member is arrested by ICE, the first step is to determine where the person is being held and understand the legal history behind the detention. Families should gather the person's full name, date of birth, A-number, country of birth, current detention facility, and copies of available immigration documents.

An immigration attorney may need to determine whether the person could seek a bond or custody hearing, whether a motion to reopen or other immigration filing may be available, or whether there are grounds to challenge the detention in federal court. The available options depend on the person's immigration history, the basis for detention, and the procedural posture of the case.

If you or a family member has an unresolved immigration matter, it can be helpful to understand the case before an ICE encounter occurs. Recent increases in enforcement make advance preparation particularly important for people with prior removal orders, pending cases, or other unresolved immigration issues.