As the new administration ramps up immigration enforcement, routine check-ins with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have become increasingly perilous for immigrants—even those following all the rules.
Jorge, a 22-year-old asylum seeker from Venezuela, had been checking in regularly with ICE while waiting for his court hearing. In February, he showed up at the ICE field office in Portland, Oregon, expecting to sign paperwork. Instead, he was arrested and transferred to a detention facility in another state. “I never thought I’d be arrested,” Jorge said from the Tacoma detention center. “I have a clean record. That’s why I went voluntarily.”
Similarly, Alberto, a 42-year-old Nicaraguan granted humanitarian parole, checked in using ICE’s electronic monitoring app. Just days later, he was taken into custody. Sergei and Marina, asylum seekers from Russia, visited an immigration office in San Francisco to update their documents. Sergei was arrested on the spot, while Marina was told to return in a few weeks.
These are just a few of the many cases that illustrate a growing fear among immigrants. ICE doesn’t release specific numbers, but data from the first four weeks of Trump’s new term shows that over 1,400 people were arrested during or shortly after ICE check-ins—roughly 8% of total arrests at that time.
Under the Biden administration, immigration officers were advised to prioritize individuals who posed a threat to public safety. Discretion allowed many immigrants with no criminal history to remain under supervision. But now, the directive is broader: all undocumented immigrants, regardless of compliance or criminal background, are potential targets.
“Under this new administration, all bets are off,” said Stefania Ramos, an immigration attorney in Seattle. “People are panicking—looking for lawyers, preparing for detention.”
Immigration attorneys stress that missing a check-in is not an option, as it can lead to serious legal consequences. Most individuals under ICE supervision are already closely monitored, often with ankle bracelets or facial recognition apps. ICE knows their home and work locations, making it easy to locate and detain them.
Legal experts now advise immigrants to attend check-ins with a family member or attorney, and to prepare for the possibility of arrest—even if they’ve complied fully with immigration laws.
This summary reflects developments in ICE check-ins and immigrant arrests, as monitored by BenEzra & Katz.