DHS announced a nationwide ICE "public safety surge" aimed at sanctuary jurisdictions, saying officers will target criminal noncitizens and that "no one is off the table." The announcement came after reporting that ICE had been told to restrict arrests to convicted migrants — a claim DHS denied. The move follows a controversial Austin shooting that left a DoorDash driver wounded and in ICE custody, prompting criticism and protests. The surge has also included detentions of people with pending immigration protections and cases.
DHS Orders Nationwide ICE Surge Targeting Sanctuary Cities: 'No One Is Off The Table'
JZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
The Department of Homeland Security announced a nationwide U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) "public safety surge" on Sept. 26, saying officers will focus enforcement in sanctuary jurisdictions and that "no one is off the table." The move has intensified scrutiny of federal immigration tactics amid recent high-profile incidents.
What DHS Said
"This is false. No one is off the table. We will continue to arrest any and all illegal aliens that come into our path. Anyone in our country illegally will be arrested and deported." — DHS statement responding to media reports
Background
The announcement followed reporting that ICE agents were instructed to limit arrests to migrants with criminal convictions and to pause so-called "collateral arrests" — detaining other undocumented people found near a criminal target. DHS publicly denied that report and said the agency would continue broad enforcement operations.
Graeme Sloan – Pool via CNP / MEGA
Sanctuary Jurisdictions Named
DHS identified a list of sanctuary jurisdictions it plans to prioritize, including California, New York, Washington, D.C., Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Minnesota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington state, according to NewsNation reporting.
Controversial Austin Shooting
The surge comes after a confrontation in Austin, Texas, where federal agents shot Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez, a Venezuelan man working as a DoorDash driver. Reporting indicates Garcés Pérez received only a few hours of hospital care before being transferred to ICE custody while still carrying a bullet wound. The case has prompted criticism from lawmakers and civil-rights advocates.
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
"ICE's treatment of Wilber amounts to torture. After being shot in the back, he has received next to no medical care ... He should be in a hospital, not held in isolation at the South Texas Immigration Processing Center." — Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Tex.)
Wider Concerns and Impact
NewsNation has reported that since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, federal immigration agents have fired on at least 20 people, with seven fatalities reported. Those incidents have driven nationwide protests and raised questions about accountability for federal agents.
The expanded enforcement activity has also affected people with pending immigration protections and ongoing cases. Globe reporting highlighted the brief detention of Sister Leticia Ugboaja despite protections from removal to Nigeria, and the detention of Oswaldo Pirela, a minor-league catching coordinator for the San Diego Padres, who was later released on bond while his removal proceedings remain pending.
Looking Ahead
The DHS announcement signals a sustained enforcement push in jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The policy has deepened debates over public safety, local control, due process and the treatment of migrants in federal custody.
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