Midterm elections: ICE enforcement spikes across the U.S.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity has increased sharply in the weeks leading up to the midterm elections, according to local reports from across the United States.

In Dover, New Jersey, Councilwoman Sandra Wittner received messages on Wednesday morning alerting her to a gathering of agents. More than a dozen ICE officers were reported outside a Walgreens. Neighbors in north New Jersey observed a similar spike in enforcement activity throughout the day.

The pattern is not unique to New Jersey. Reports gathered by NPR and its member stations indicate a rise in operations in various cities and states. Tips have come from rural areas in Illinois and Oregon, as well as from Detroit and California. These reports cover activity throughout the month of October.

An official in the office of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed that the administration has noted a surge in local ICE activity. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

A member of a volunteer group in New York said the uptick has been present since the summer. She requested that her name not be used due to fear of retaliation. Her group documents raids on the scene and reminds detainees of their rights.

"In the past few weeks we've seen numerous large operations, or what we call cluster raids, multiple agents going to one spot and then the next," the volunteer said.

Troy Brynelson, a reporter for Oregon Public Broadcasting, noted a similar trend in Portland. He stated that activity picked up in early October and has continued. The enforcement appears concentrated in commercial areas. Brynelson described the increase as a noticeable uptick compared to the summer months.

Wendy Weiser, a researcher at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law School, analyzed the timing of the raids. She said the tactics deployed by the administration appear designed to intimidate voters. However, she noted that early turnout is surging despite the increased presence of agents.

"There was definitely a lot of apprehension and fear," Wittner said. "We just really weren't sure if something huge was about to happen. People were not feeling very comfortable or safe."

Wittner noted that it is difficult to report on these crackdowns in real time. The Department of Homeland Security no longer publicly shares timely information on its operations. When NPR asked the agency if a recent surge had occurred, it responded that agents uphold immigration laws in all 50 states, seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Juan Proaño of the League of United Latin American Citizens expressed concern about the proximity of these actions to the election date. He clarified that the issue is not necessarily agents at the polling station, but rather at the perimeter. He warned that mass enforcement actions, even if distant, could dissuade voters through social media coverage.

Weiser said there is no indication that the raids are lowering participation rates. She reported seeing huge surges in early voting in minority communities, including Latino communities that have been targeted by ICE and DHS. She stated that the intimidation strategy is not working as Americans are tuning it out. Weiser also noted that intimidation at the polls is illegal and should be reported.