Federal agents carried out a two-week ICE operation in West Virginia from Jan. 5–19 that officials say resulted in about 650 arrests of people alleged to be in the U.S. illegally, many with criminal histories or prior deportation orders. State and local officials described the sweep as orderly and cooperative, contrasting it with protests and confrontations tied to recent ICE activity in Minnesota. Critics, including state Democrats, questioned the legality and motives behind some arrests and pointed to court orders releasing certain detainees. DHS said similar, low-profile enforcement can succeed where state and local authorities cooperate.
West Virginia ICE Operation Nets About 650 Arrests; Officials Contrast Calm Response With Minnesota Protests
West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey speaks outside the Supreme Court.(Getty Images)
Federal immigration agents conducted a concentrated, two-week enforcement operation across West Virginia from Jan. 5 through Jan. 19 that resulted in roughly 650 arrests, officials told Fox News Digital. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) representatives said the effort — carried out at times alongside local law enforcement — targeted undocumented immigrants with criminal histories or prior deportation orders.
Orderly Sweep, Officials Say
State officials and local law-enforcement leaders described the West Virginia sweep as largely orderly and efficient. Jefferson County Sheriff Thomas Hansen confirmed his office participated in the operation and praised the professionalism and conduct of federal agents, saying they "interacted well with citizens and local law enforcement officers." West Virginia Attorney General J.B. McCuskey credited cooperation between state and federal authorities with minimizing public disruption.
An ICE agent standing in front of a house in a residential area.
Responses and Contrasts
Officials contrasted West Virginia’s approach with recent ICE activity in Minnesota, which has prompted sustained protests, surveillance of federal agents and clashes with local police. McCuskey argued that differing local choices — not federal law — help explain the divergent outcomes in each state.
"When you contrast that with places like Minnesota ... what you see is riots and violence," McCuskey told Fox News Digital, while saying West Virginia’s cooperation produced a calm, efficient operation.
Not all state leaders endorsed the sweep. West Virginia Democratic Party Chair and state Delegate Mike Pushkin criticized the arrests and questioned the legal basis for some detentions, noting a federal judge ordered the release of certain detainees and wrote there was not "a shred of evidence to justify the government's position" in at least one instance.
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.
Named Arrestees and Enforcement Details
DHS and state officials said the arrests included individuals with violent or serious criminal histories. The operation reportedly detained, among others: Mexican national Enrique Vergara (convicted of assault with a weapon); Guatemalan national Isaias Santos (convicted on several violent charges); Julian Garza (charged with auto theft); Brayan Canelis-Giron (charged with domestic violence and weapons offenses); and Dennis Paz-Vallecillo (convicted of child neglect).
Federal and Other State Reactions
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin praised cooperation between federal and local authorities and said similar low-profile operations in other states — including Alabama — have produced comparable results. Several state leaders welcomed federal enforcement: Alabama Governor Kay Ivey and U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville said they would continue to cooperate with federal agents. By contrast, some Maryland and California officials criticized the operation and questioned priorities, citing statistics about transfers from state prisons to ICE custody.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison showered protesters with praise at a recent public appearance, calling ICE's operations a "federal invasion."
Legal and Political Tensions Remain
The episode underscores ongoing legal and political tensions over immigration enforcement. Supporters argue coordinated action reduces public-safety risks and disorder, while critics warn of overreach, legal problems and harm to immigrant communities. DHS reiterated that cooperation with local law enforcement is, in its view, the most effective approach to carry out targeted enforcement safely.
Reporting note: Fox News Digital sought comment from Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz; no response was received for this story.
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