DALLAS – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 84 undocumented immigrants across North Texas on Sunday, marking the beginning of what officials suggest is a broader enforcement effort.
ICE Operations in Dallas-Fort Worth
ICE agents conducted targeted arrests in several North Texas cities, including Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Irving, Garland, and Collin County. The agency emphasized that the operation was part of a broader initiative to enforce immigration laws and enhance public safety.
“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, along with our federal law enforcement partners, began conducting enhanced targeted operations yesterday in North Texas and the state of Oklahoma to enforce U.S. immigration law and preserve public safety and national security by keeping potentially dangerous criminal aliens out of our communities,” an ICE spokesperson said.
On Monday afternoon, FOX 4 captured footage of handcuffed and shackled individuals being transported into a van at the ICE Dallas field office. Meanwhile, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Dallas to protest the administration’s immigration policies.
While ICE has not disclosed specific charges against those arrested, the agency stated that all individuals detained have criminal records.
Targeted Enforcement Strategy
Experts suggest that ICE’s latest actions are part of a more strategic, intelligence-driven approach.
“I highly doubt you’ll see grandmothers or children being arrested. It’s possible, but in very rare cases,” said AJ Irwin, a retired Homeland Security special agent. “The government isn’t interested in going after those individuals, and they also don’t want to get bogged down in legal battles over such cases.”
Irwin further noted that many of those arrested may have been under investigation for months or even years. He suggested that prior restrictions may have delayed their apprehension under the previous administration.
“They already know who these individuals are. They’ve been gathering intelligence for some time,” Irwin explained. “This isn’t a random sweep of neighborhoods. It’s a highly focused operation.”
National Immigration Crackdown Intensifies
The North Texas arrests are part of a larger nationwide ICE operation that has resulted in nearly 1,000 arrests. In Denver, approximately 50 individuals were taken into custody at a nightclub, with federal authorities identifying many of them as gang members or drug traffickers.
The Trump administration has set ambitious targets for immigration enforcement, aiming to increase daily arrests from an average of 310 to between 1,200 and 1,500, according to a report from The Washington Post.
“We’re not targeting families. We’re focused on threats to public safety and national security—period,” said Border Czar Tom Homan.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reinforced this stance, stating, “The President has made it clear that addressing the crisis at the southern border is a top priority. Protecting the sovereignty of the United States is a fundamental duty of the Defense Department.”
The administration has also lifted restrictions on immigration enforcement at sensitive locations, such as schools, churches, and hospitals. Previously, federal agents were discouraged from making arrests at these sites under a policy in place since 2011.
“Criminals will no longer be able to use America’s schools and churches as sanctuaries to evade law enforcement,” a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said. However, the agency noted that officers would still exercise discretion and “a healthy dose of common sense” in such locations. As of now, no arrests have been reported at schools or places of worship.
Texas Deploys Additional Troops to Border
In response to the ongoing immigration crackdown, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced the deployment of 400 additional National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border in the Rio Grande Valley.
“Texas is stepping up to secure the border,” Abbott said on Monday, confirming that the troops would be dispatched from bases in Houston and Fort Worth.
The additional personnel will join thousands of National Guard soldiers already stationed at the border. The state is also deploying C-130 aircraft and Chinook helicopters to support the mission.
As enforcement efforts intensify nationwide, the debate over immigration policies continues to fuel tensions across the country.
