On Tuesday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reached a grim milestone, arresting more than 2,200 individuals in a single day—the highest number ever recorded. This mass enforcement action is part of the Trump administration's aggressive push to detain and deport as many migrants as possible, regardless of their individual circumstances or legal status. According to reports, the escalation follows direct orders from the White House to arrest 3,000 people per day, a figure that, if sustained, would lead to over one million arrests per year.
Many of those arrested were not undocumented criminals, but individuals legally enrolled in ICE's own Alternative to Detention (ATD) program. This initiative, which uses ankle monitors or smartphone apps to track participants who pose no public safety threat, was originally designed to offer a more humane and cost-effective alternative to detention. Now, it is being weaponized.
In recent days, ICE has begun arresting these individuals at pre-scheduled check-in appointments, blindsiding families and attorneys alike. Some arrests even took place inside immigration courtrooms, a clear signal that no place is off-limits in this new era of enforcement.
Immigration attorneys and advocacy organizations have described the sweeping arrests as “a dragnet so wide that there's no possible valid argument that could be made that these individuals are all dangerous.”
Even more concerning, ICE has been instructed to arrest anyone they “happen to encounter” while serving warrants, including bystanders or "collaterals" with no outstanding orders against them. Internal guidance reportedly encouraged agents to “turn the creative knob up to 11,” incentivizing maximalist enforcement regardless of due process or humanitarian concerns.
The consequences of this reckless policy are already being felt across the country. In one recent case, a young child was detained and separated from a parent during a routine immigration hearing. The child remains in custody, and community advocates are demanding answers, yet ICE has not provided any explanation for the separation.
This isn't just a numbers game—it's a human crisis. Targeting law-abiding immigrants and detaining children at legal check-ins and court hearings undermines the integrity of our immigration system and betrays basic principles of justice and decency.
At Saluja Law, we condemn these tactics and remain committed to defending the rights of immigrants and asylum seekers. If you or someone you know is facing an ICE check-in or has concerns about how these changes could affect your case, we urge you to contact our office immediately. In this climate of fear and uncertainty, legal guidance is more critical than ever.
Stay informed. Stay protected. Stand with those most vulnerable.
For consultations, visit www.salujalaw.com or call us at 304.755.1101.