ICE arrested more than 650 undocumented immigrants across West Virginia during a coordinated operation from Jan. 5 to Jan. 19 that involved 14 federal, state and local law enforcement partners. Teams worked in Charleston, Martinsburg, Beckley, Moorefield, Morgantown and Huntington. Operation ICE Wall, a commercial-vehicle initiative, produced more than 25 arrests, and officials highlighted arrests of individuals described as threats to public safety. Local leaders praised the professionalism of ICE agents.
ICE Arrests More Than 650 Undocumented Immigrants In West Virginia During Two-Week Operation
ICE officers arrested over 650 illegal aliens in a two-week West Virginia operation.(Getty Images)
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that officers arrested more than 650 undocumented immigrants across West Virginia during a coordinated, two-week statewide operation that ran from Jan. 5 to Jan. 19. The effort involved 14 federal, state and local law enforcement partners and included deployments to Charleston, Martinsburg, Beckley, Moorefield, Morgantown and Huntington.
ICE officers arrested Sagar Singh, an Indian national previously ordered removed, during Operation ICE Wall after he was stopped for failing to clear a mandatory commercial vehicle brake check.
Operation Overview
ICE said the arrests included individuals it alleges posed threats to public safety or national security, as well as others who entered the country unlawfully. A targeted commercial-vehicle enforcement effort, called Operation ICE Wall, accounted for more than 25 arrests during the surge.
On Jan. 11, ICE officers arrested Ling Yan, a Chinese national also known as Yang Ning, who was previously convicted of two counts of endangering the welfare of children in Ohio and has a final order of removal.
One person arrested on Jan. 8 was identified as Sagar Singh, a citizen of India. ICE said Singh was stopped after failing to comply with a mandatory brake-check for commercial vehicles and was cited for multiple vehicle infractions; ICE also reported he had a prior order of removal. Another detainee, Ling Yan (also known as Yang Ning), a citizen of China, was described by ICE as having prior convictions for two counts of endangering the welfare of children in Ravenna, Ohio. ICE additionally reported arrests that included a convicted child sex offender, an individual with drug possession convictions and other alleged offenders.
Local Partnership And Response
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office was one of the local agencies that collaborated with ICE. Sheriff Tom Hansen praised the professionalism and work ethic of ICE agents and their interactions with residents and local officers, saying the partnership made supporting the initiative worthwhile.
This operation demonstrates how strong partnerships between ICE and West Virginia law enforcement agencies enhance public safety and the integrity of our immigration system, said Michael Rose, acting Field Office Director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in Philadelphia. He added that training and support helped expand local capacity to identify, arrest and process undocumented immigrants while ensuring authorities acted professionally and within the law.
According to federal officials, the operation proceeded without protests. ICE did not provide a full breakdown of charges for every individual arrested; additional details may be available in follow-up releases from ICE or participating local agencies.
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