The Department of Homeland Security has given recent immigration raids and detention facilities irreverent, sometimes mocking names, provoking sharp debate. Critics call the labels dehumanizing and racially charged, while supporters say they signal that the administration is serious about enforcing immigration laws. The names have prompted social media backlash, local alarm and promises of congressional oversight into ICE and Border Patrol conduct.
‘Operation Dirtbag’ to ‘Alligator Alcatraz’: DHS Operation Names Spark Outrage and Defense
Activists are approached by federal agents for following agent vehicles, on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Operation Dirtbag in Florida. Operation Catahoula Crunch, also called Swamp Sweep, in Louisiana. Operation Catch of the Day in Maine. The Department of Homeland Security and its immigration agencies have adopted irreverent, sometimes mocking names for recent immigration enforcement actions and detention facilities, producing sharply divided reactions across the political spectrum.
Reactions: Condemnation and Defense
Critics say the branding is dehumanizing and racially charged, especially because many of the operations have focused on Black and brown communities. California Rep. Jimmy Gomez told The Associated Press that the names send the message that immigrants are sub-human and are inconsistent with how officials describe counterterrorism operations overseas.
“The names send a message that immigrants in the U.S. are ‘sub-human,’” Rep. Jimmy Gomez said. “That is why they have those disgusting names. Administration officials don’t even use that kind of language when they conduct operations across the globe dealing with some of the worst terrorists imaginable.”
Supporters, however, argue the labels signal seriousness about enforcing immigration laws and securing the border. Texas Rep. Brandon Gill said the names make clear the administration intends to continue vigorous enforcement.
People protest against U.S. Immigrations and Customs enforcement in Portland, Maine, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
“I think all he’s doing is letting them know we continue to be serious about that,” Rep. Brandon Gill said. “We’re serious about keeping the border secure. We’re serious about deporting illegal aliens.”
Historical Context: What’s In A Name?
Experts note that operation names have long been a form of messaging. Michael O’Hanlon of the Brookings Institution pointed out that historically sensitive military operation names were often neutral to avoid alerting adversaries. In modern politics, however, naming can also be used to project confidence or political branding — sometimes even boasting. He cited examples ranging from World War II titles like Operation Market Garden to recent administration examples such as the 2025 Operation Midnight Hammer.
Facilities, Memes and Legal Concerns
The administration has also applied playful nicknames to detention facilities: "Speedway Slammer" in Indiana, "Cornhusker Clink" in Nebraska and Florida facilities labeled "Alligator Alcatraz" and "Deportation Depot." Those monikers have spread online in memes and merchandise, prompting criticism that the government is trivializing detention and punishment.
Miami immigration attorney Hector Diaz, who has represented more than two dozen Hispanic clients detained in Florida, said the naming looks like marketing or trolling rather than sober law enforcement.
President Donald Trump waves to the media as he walks on the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Political and Legal Fallout
Operation names have become part of a broader debate about conduct and rhetoric by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol. Critics say the labels add to the chilling effect on immigrant communities and exacerbate fears that lead to reduced civic and economic participation. Maine officials and Democratic lawmakers called names such as Operation Catch of the Day racist and degrading; state leaders warned of real-world consequences for families and local businesses.
Congressional Democrats have promised oversight and investigations into alleged misconduct, including incidents that prompted federal scrutiny after the fatal shootings of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota, along with other allegations against federal immigration officers. Advocates argue investigations should examine both conduct and the agencies' rhetoric and social media practices.
Voices From Both Sides
Supporters dismiss complaints about branding as a distraction from what they describe as political failures by opponents, while critics contend that the rhetoric signals an administration willing to use dehumanizing language in domestic enforcement. Debu Gandhi of the Center for American Progress framed the debate as one about methodology: securing the border without what he called unconstitutional racial profiling and brutal tactics.
Bottom line: Whether intended as blunt political messaging or simply colorful branding, the operation names have intensified debate over the tone and tactics of immigration enforcement and prompted calls for congressional review.
Tang reported from Phoenix.
Help us improve.
