ICE West Virginia Surge Nets 650 Arrests as State Leaders Tout Cooperation Over Minnesota‑Style Clashes
ICE arrested more than 650 undocumented immigrants across West Virginia in a two‑week operation centered in the Eastern Panhandle that state and local officials — including Jefferson County Sheriff Thomas Hansen — said unfolded professionally, with little disruption and close cooperation from local police. West Virginia Attorney General J.B. McCuskey contrasted the quiet surge with what he called "Minnesota‑style" riots and violence and used the operation to criticize Minnesota AG Keith Ellison on immigration and alleged social‑services fraud, saying West Virginia experiences similar entitlement pressures without such chaos.
📌 Key Facts
- A two-week ICE surge in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle, conducted with state cooperation, resulted in about 650 arrests.
- Jefferson County Sheriff Thomas Hansen confirmed the operation, praised ICE agents’ professionalism, and said the surge unfolded with little disruption and good interaction with citizens and local officers.
- West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey publicly contrasted the state’s quiet, cooperative ICE operation with what he called 'riots and violence' in Minnesota, arguing Minnesota leaders cannot blame federal law because jurisdictions operate under essentially the same statutes.
- McCuskey used the operation to attack Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on immigration and alleged social‑services fraud, claiming West Virginia has comparable entitlement levels without 'Minnesota‑style' fraud and chaos.
- State leaders touted their cooperation with ICE as producing effective, low‑disruption enforcement and presented the West Virginia approach implicitly as a model in contrast to events in Minnesota.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
February 08, 2026
11:00 AM
West Virginia worked with ICE — 650 arrests later, officials say Minnesota-style 'chaos' is a choice
New information:
- West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey, in an on‑record Fox interview, explicitly contrasts his state’s quiet two‑week ICE surge with 'riots and violence' in Minnesota, arguing Minnesota leaders can’t blame federal law because everyone operates under essentially the same statutes.
- Jefferson County Sheriff Thomas Hansen confirms a two‑week ICE operation in the Eastern Panhandle and publicly praises agents’ 'professionalism,' saying the surge unfolded with little disruption and good interaction with citizens and local officers.
- McCuskey uses the operation to attack Minnesota AG Keith Ellison over both immigration and social‑services fraud, claiming West Virginia has similar entitlement levels without 'Minnesota‑style' fraud and chaos.
February 02, 2026