ICE is increasing immigration enforcement activity in sanctuary cities across the United States. Learn what the DHS surge may mean for immigrants, families and people facing detention or removal proceedings.
The Department of Homeland Security has announced an increased U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement presence in jurisdictions commonly described as sanctuary cities, marking another significant development in federal immigration enforcement in 2026.
According to a September 28, 2026 report published by The Hill, DHS said ICE had initiated what the agency characterized as a surge in sanctuary cities. The jurisdictions identified in the report include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Washington, D.C., Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. ICE ramps up presence in sanctu…
For immigrants and their families, increased enforcement activity can make it especially important to understand individual immigration status, pending applications, prior immigration orders and the legal options that may become available following contact with ICE.
The Hill reports that DHS described the initiative as a nationwide public safety surge. According to the article, DHS stated that immigration officers would continue making arrests during enforcement operations and said the effort was focused on people the agency characterizes as criminal noncitizens who had been released from local jails in sanctuary jurisdictions. ICE ramps up presence in sanctu…
The term sanctuary city does not have one uniform legal definition. It generally refers to jurisdictions that place limits on certain forms of cooperation between local authorities and federal immigration enforcement agencies. Those local policies do not prevent the federal government from enforcing federal immigration law.
The latest announcement therefore matters not only for people with criminal records. The Hill reports that many people arrested during the administration’s broader immigration enforcement efforts were either described as noncriminal or as having minor offenses. ICE ramps up presence in sanctu…
According to the source article, DHS identified California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Washington, D.C., Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington in connection with the increased enforcement activity. ICE ramps up presence in sanctu…
People living in these jurisdictions should not assume that a local sanctuary policy provides immunity from federal immigration enforcement. ICE is a federal agency, and federal officers may continue carrying out immigration enforcement notwithstanding limitations on local government cooperation.
At the same time, the precise legal consequences of an ICE encounter depend heavily on the individual circumstances of the case. Immigration history, manner of entry, current status, criminal history, pending applications, prior removal orders and possible eligibility for immigration relief can all be significant.
An encounter with ICE can develop quickly. A person may discover that an old immigration case resulted in an order of removal, that a prior criminal matter has immigration consequences or that the government is seeking detention while removal proceedings continue.
That is why preparation can be important.
People who are concerned about immigration enforcement should consider having an immigration attorney review their immigration history before an emergency occurs. Families may also want to maintain copies of immigration documents and ensure that trusted relatives know how to contact legal counsel if someone is detained.
A pending immigration application does not necessarily resolve every potential enforcement issue. Likewise, an arrest by ICE does not automatically mean that a person has exhausted all available legal options.
Depending on the circumstances, an attorney may examine issues involving bond, removal proceedings, motions to reopen, asylum, adjustment of status, cancellation of removal and other forms of immigration relief.
The Hill places the sanctuary jurisdiction announcement within a broader period of intensified immigration enforcement and controversy surrounding encounters involving federal immigration officers.
The article reports that federal immigration agents had shot at least 20 people since President Donald Trump returned to office, seven fatally, and notes that the incidents had generated protests. The article also reports criticism alleging that increased deportation enforcement has contributed to more confrontations. Those are claims and figures reported by The Hill and should be understood within that source’s reporting rather than as an independent legal finding. ICE ramps up presence in sanctu…
The article additionally describes an incident involving a U.S. citizen in a Chicago suburb who, according to local police and a resident cited in the reporting, was injured during an encounter with immigration officers who allegedly mistook him for a fugitive. ICE ramps up presence in sanctu…
These reports underscore why both immigration status and the particular facts surrounding an enforcement encounter can matter when evaluating possible legal remedies.
When a loved one is taken into immigration custody, obtaining accurate information quickly can be critical. Families should try to determine where the person is being held, obtain the person’s Alien Registration Number when available and collect immigration and court documents that could help an attorney evaluate the case.
Immigration detention does not necessarily end the legal process. Depending on the person’s circumstances, counsel may be able to investigate eligibility for release, challenge aspects of removal proceedings, identify available immigration relief or determine whether an earlier case can potentially be reopened.
Deadlines can also matter. Waiting until a case has progressed substantially can narrow the practical options available.
For more than a century, Spar and Bernstein has assisted immigrants and families confronting complicated questions involving the United States immigration system.
During a period of increased ICE activity, an experienced immigration attorney can review a person’s history and determine what legal issues require immediate attention. For someone already in ICE custody, counsel can evaluate the detention and removal case and identify available avenues for relief based on the facts and applicable law.
For individuals who have not been detained but are worried about increased enforcement, proactive legal review can also be valuable. Understanding whether there is an outstanding removal order, unresolved immigration proceeding or potential path toward lawful status can help families make informed decisions before an urgent situation develops.
Every immigration case is different. The existence of increased enforcement does not itself determine the outcome of any individual case.
DHS’s announcement signals that federal immigration enforcement activity may be more visible in sanctuary jurisdictions identified by the agency. For immigrant communities, however, the most useful response is to focus on the facts of the individual case and the legal protections or remedies that may apply.
People concerned about their status, a prior removal order, an upcoming immigration court proceeding or the detention of a family member can speak with the immigration attorneys at Spar and Bernstein about their circumstances and potential next steps.
