Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

In 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security described assaults on ICE officers as including hitting, spitting, kicking, biting, vehicle ramming, gunfire, and Molotov cocktail attacks.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security reported 238 assaults on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers from January 21 through November 21, 2025, compared with 19 assaults during January 21 through November 21, 2024, representing an increase of over 1,150%.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) describes the South American Theft Group (SATG) as an organized network of foreign nationals, primarily from South America, who travel throughout the United States to target wealthy homes and businesses for burglaries and thefts.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reports that members of the South American Theft Group (SATG) use encrypted messaging apps, burner phones, and pre-surveillance of neighborhoods to identify and target victims.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reports that items commonly stolen by the South American Theft Group (SATG) include high-value jewelry, luxury watches, and cash.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) states that most members of the South American Theft Group (SATG) in the United States are present illegally or remain in the country on expired visas.

The U.S. Department of State can revoke a foreign national's visa, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can detain noncitizens found to be unlawfully present and place them into immigration removal proceedings.

The U.S. Attorney General can issue memoranda directing component agencies within the Department of Justice, including the FBI, to assist in protecting federal facilities such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities.

Sanctuary policies are municipal or local-government policies that restrict or prohibit local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, including measures that bar federal agents from using city-owned property or local law enforcement resources for immigration operations.

Federal immigration enforcement operations sometimes use municipal properties such as police departments, city parking lots, garages, or other city-owned facilities as staging areas, processing locations, or operational bases.

When municipal sanctuary policies bar federal immigration agents from using city-owned property for staging or operations, agents may be forced to prepare and brief operations in public locations (for example, supermarkets, office parks, or parks), which can increase the visibility and exposure of enforcement personnel.

Municipal executive orders or local ordinances can include provisions that enable private businesses to refuse federal agents permission to use their private property as staging or operational sites for immigration enforcement.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are law enforcement components within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that conduct immigration enforcement operations.

U.S. immigration enforcement operations have targeted individuals alleged to be involved in gang membership, drug trafficking, child abuse, assault, fraud, illegal reentry, larceny, driving under the influence (DUI), and aggravated assault.

The National Guard can be assigned to protect federal facilities and personnel, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) can work collaboratively as part of multi-agency efforts to support ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) when effecting arrests.

Federal immigration enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other DHS components, conduct operations that target sellers of counterfeit goods.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has stated that approximately 70% of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests involve noncitizens who are charged with or convicted of crimes in the United States.