If you’ve been watching the news lately, it feels like the rules of the game just changed overnight. One day you’re hearing about "priorities" and "public safety threats," and the next, there’s a massive funding surge and talk of a million removals a year. It’s a lot to process. Honestly, trying to figure out who is ICE targeting right now is like trying to hit a moving target while wearing a blindfold.
The reality on the ground in early 2026 is a massive departure from just a couple of years ago. We’re seeing a dual-track system: high-profile arrests of violent criminals alongside a quiet, massive expansion of "collateral" arrests that sweep up people with no criminal records at all.
The Big Shift in 2026 Enforcement Priorities
For a long time, the official line was that the government only went after the "worst of the worst." You know the list—murderers, gang members, people with serious felony convictions. And look, ICE is still very much doing that. Just this month, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) touted the success of "Operation Metro Surge" in Minnesota, picking up people with convictions for homicide and sexual assault.
But here’s the kicker: the net has gotten way, way bigger.
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Under the current administration and Secretary Kristi Noem, the "One Big Beautiful Act" (signed back in July 2025) poured $170 billion into enforcement. That kind of money doesn't just go toward high-level detectives. It goes toward a "mass removal campaign." Basically, if you are in the country without legal status, you are now a potential target. The "priority" lists that used to protect long-term residents with clean records? Those are effectively gone.
Who is actually ending up in detention?
It’s not just the headlines. The American Immigration Council recently dropped a report showing that the number of people in ICE custody hit 73,000 this January. That is a record high.
- People with zero criminal records: This is the biggest change. In 2024, only about 6% of people ICE arrested had no criminal record. By the end of 2025, that number jumped to 41%.
- The "Collateral" arrest: ICE is doing more "at-large" arrests. If they go to an apartment complex to find one guy with a warrant and find five other people without papers, they’re taking everyone.
- Worksite raids: These are back in a big way. We’re seeing large-scale operations at processing plants and construction sites where the goal isn't just one person, but the whole floor.
- Courtroom arrests: This used to be a "sensitive location" that was mostly off-limits. Not anymore. Agents are now picking people up at immigration court hearings or even regular check-ins.
The End of "Sensitive Locations"
You might remember when churches, schools, and hospitals were considered safe zones. That’s mostly a thing of the past. There have been reported incidents of mothers being detained during school drop-offs and people being picked up near religious services.
It's a heavy-handed approach that has turned cities like Minneapolis into absolute flashpoints. There was a tragic incident involving the shooting of Renee Macklin Good during an ICE operation recently, which has only dialed up the tension between federal agents and local communities. In response, we’re seeing "roving patrols" and a much heavier federal presence in so-called sanctuary jurisdictions.
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What about people with "Legal" status?
This is the part that’s catching a lot of people off guard. If you’re here on Parole or have Temporary Protected Status (TPS), you might think you’re in the clear. But the administration has been terminatng these statuses for entire groups.
If your TPS is revoked because the government decides your home country is "safe" again, you move from "legal" to "target" almost instantly. This is also happening to people who were granted humanitarian deferrals, like children who were abandoned or abused. The policy is now: if you don’t have a permanent green card or citizenship, your status is precarious.
The Infrastructure of Mass Deportation
To understand who is ICE targeting, you have to look at the money. The 2026 budget includes $11.3 billion specifically for ICE, with a massive chunk of that going toward 100,000 detention beds.
They aren't just using local jails anymore. They are reopening closed state prisons and building massive tent cities on military bases, some capable of holding 5,000 people at a time. When the government builds that much space, they intend to fill it.
Workplace Verification is the New Front Line
It’s not just about agents knocking on doors. The push for mandatory nationwide E-Verify (part of the Dignity Act discussions) means the workplace is becoming the primary filter.
- Employers are under the microscope: The government is targeting businesses that "knowingly" hire undocumented workers with massive fines and criminal charges.
- Self-Deportation: The theory is that if you can’t work and you can’t drive (due to increased data sharing between DMVs and ICE), you’ll eventually leave on your own.
- Data Integration: ICE is getting better at using tech. They are cross-referencing databases in ways they couldn't five years ago, making it easier to track down people who have overstayed visas.
Real-World Examples of Recent Operations
In San Antonio, an individual from Cuba was recently arrested after allegedly ramming ICE vehicles. In North Carolina, agents focused on a "worst of the worst" sweep that targeted people with child exploitation convictions.
But for every high-profile criminal arrest, there are dozens of stories like the ones coming out of the Midwest, where people are being pulled over for broken taillights and ending up on a bus to a detention center in another state. The "target" is no longer just the person with a rap sheet; it's the person without the right paperwork.
Nuance and the Legal Battle
It’s worth noting that this isn’t happening without a fight. Multiple lawsuits are flying through the courts right now, trying to halt the deployment of National Guard troops to cities like Chicago and Portland.
There’s also a huge debate about "administrative warrants" versus "judicial warrants." ICE often uses administrative warrants—which are signed by ICE officials, not a judge. These don't actually give them the right to enter a private home or a private area of a business without permission. Organizations like the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) have been putting out flyers specifically for 2026, reminding people that you don't have to open the door unless there’s a warrant signed by a judge.
Actionable Steps for Those Navigating This
If you or someone you know is worried about being targeted, the landscape in 2026 requires a very specific set of precautions. This isn't just about "laying low" anymore; it's about active preparation.
- Audit Your Paperwork: If you have any pending application (U-Visa, T-Visa, Asylum), make sure your address is current with USCIS. Missing a notice can lead to an automatic order of removal.
- Know the Warrant Difference: If an agent comes to your door, ask them to slide the warrant under the door. If it isn't signed by a judge/court, you do not have to let them in.
- Emergency Contact Plan: Because detention centers are often in remote areas or different states, families need a "red folder" with copies of all immigration docs, birth certificates, and a power of attorney for someone to care for children or handle bank accounts.
- Avoid High-Risk Check-ins Alone: If you have a mandatory ICE check-in, never go alone. Bring a lawyer if possible, or at least ensure someone knows exactly where you are and has a copy of your A-number.
The reality of who is ICE targeting in 2026 is that the "safety" of having a clean record has evaporated. The mission has shifted from "surgical strikes" on criminals to a "wide-net" approach designed to maximize the total number of removals.