Events
14 events in this investigation
The ICE Crackdown
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Timeline
87 events from 2025 to 2026
Homan oversaw ICE as Border Czar, pushing for 3,000 arrests/day.
Lyons served as Acting ICE ERO Director. Authored secret memo allowing warrantless home entry. Found to have violated 96+ court orders.
Public Counsel won federal injunction requiring attorney access to detainees.
ACLU filed class-action lawsuits against ICE.
Six masked DHS agents arrested Ozturk near campus after her visa was revoked over an op-ed.
Mayor Johnston resisted ICE and upheld Denver's sanctuary policies.
ICE detained US citizen Adrian Martinez outside a Walmart.
Trump appointed Marco Rubio as Secretary of State.
Arrest at Delaney Hall ICE facility in Newark.
Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 for deportations. Flights departed defying a judge's TRO.
Noem appointed Todd Lyons as Acting ICE ERO Director.
CBP deployed 2,000+ agents to Minneapolis for Operation Metro Surge.
ICE arrested Mahdawi at his U.S. citizenship interview. A judge ordered his release.
Marimar Martinez was shot 5 times by Border Patrol during Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago.
Hyundai raid took place in Ellabell, Georgia.
Trump deployed military to American cities for immigration enforcement.
Baraka arrested at Delaney Hall with 3 Congress members. Charges dismissed.
Khalil was a green card holder and graduate student at Columbia.
Chicago was a major site for the Day Without Immigrants protest.
Supreme Court unanimously ordered Abrego Garcia's return.
ICE arrested Khalil without a judicial warrant. Government later admitted no warrant existed.
Abrego Garcia was illegally deported despite a court order.
Supreme Court unanimously ruled deportation illegal (April 10, 2025) and ordered government to "facilitate" return.
Newsom overridden by military deployment; judge ruled it violated Posse Comitatus Act.
Villegas Gonzalez was killed during a traffic stop in Franklin Park, IL.
Bukele's government facilitated the deportation to CECOT.
Ozturk transported 1,600 miles from Tufts to South Louisiana.
Denver was a target city during Operation Safeguard.
Trump appointed Kristi Noem as DHS Secretary.
Bukele offered CECOT to the US. 238 Venezuelans held there.
ICE led the largest workplace raid in DHS history — 475 arrested at Hyundai.
Operation Metro Surge targeted Minneapolis.
Newark was a target city during Operation Safeguard.
ICE launched Operation Safeguard — 538 arrested across 9 cities.
Chicago was a staging city for Operation Safeguard.
Miller directed ICE to achieve 3,000 arrests/day via daily 10 a.m. calls.
Villegas Gonzalez was killed during Operation Midway Blitz.
Mamdani upheld NYC sanctuary laws against ICE pressure.
ICE launched Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago — 1,800+ arrested.
Trump appointed Tom Homan as Border Czar to oversee the mass deportation campaign.
The preschool raid took place at Rayito de Sol in Chicago.
Rubio designated TdA as a terrorist organization on February 20, 2025.
Bovino led Operation Metro Surge until removed after Pretti killing.
Khalil detained at LaSalle Detention Center in Jena, Louisiana for 104 days.
The Alien Enemies Act targeted alleged TdA members for deportation without court proceedings.
Rubio defended the illegal deportation and defiance of court orders.
Martinez was shot 5 times in Chicago.
Abrego Garcia was deported to CECOT mega-prison.
Trump appointed Stephen Miller as Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, making him the deportation architect.
700 Marines + ~2,100 National Guard deployed to Los Angeles. Judge ruled it violated Posse Comitatus Act.
Martinez was detained in the Los Angeles area.
Mayor Johnson created ICE-Free Zones in Chicago via executive order.
Noem served as DHS Secretary.
Border Patrol shot US citizen Marimar Martinez 5 times in Chicago. She survived and testified to Congress.
ICE participated in Operation Metro Surge — 3,000+ arrested in Minneapolis.
Operation Midway Blitz targeted Chicago.
ICE chased teacher into Rayito de Sol preschool and arrested her in front of children.
Trump appointed Pam Bondi as Attorney General.
Mahdawi was a Columbia student arrested at his own citizenship interview.
Ozturk was a PhD student at Tufts, arrested for an op-ed.
Trump signed the Laken Riley Act — first bill of his second term. 17,500 arrests under its authority.
Abbott aligned with Trump, offering state resources for the crackdown.
Good's killing was the primary catalyst for the general strike.
Federal agents killed American civilian Alex Pretti.
Ellison sued DHS to halt Operation Metro Surge (January 12, 2026).
Ross fired three shots. Bystander video went viral.
Lemon arrested in connection with a January 18 church protest in St. Paul. Judge found "no evidence" of criminal behavior.
Homan dispatched to Minneapolis to take over after Bovino's removal.
Renee Good was the victim.
The Minnesota general strike inspired the nationwide National Shutdown.
ICE agent Ross shot and killed Renee Good (37, American) during a Minneapolis raid.
AG Bondi personally ordered Don Lemon's arrest.
ACLU challenged Metro Surge for racial profiling and due process violations.
Homan took over Minneapolis operations after Bovino's removal following Pretti killing.
Pretti (37, VA ICU nurse) was filming agents with his phone when killed.
50,000+ marched through Minneapolis in -20°F. 700+ businesses closed.
ICE shot Sosa-Celis in the leg in a mistaken identity case in Minneapolis.
ICE agent killed American civilian Renee Good during a raid.
StopICE.net tracked ICE raids with 500K+ subscribers. Platform hacked January 29, 2026.
Pretti was killed in Minneapolis's Whittier neighborhood.
CBP agents Ochoa and Gutierrez shot and killed Pretti. 10 shots in under 5 seconds.
Pretti's killing further fueled the strike movement.
Mayor Frey challenged DHS characterization of Good shooting. Subject to DOJ investigation.
Good was killed during an ICE raid in Minneapolis.
Minneapolis was the epicenter of the National Shutdown.
Ellison filed federal lawsuit against DHS challenging Metro Surge (January 12, 2026).
Governor Walz demanded federal agents leave Minnesota after the killings.
Showing 14 of 14
Abrego Garcia Illegal Deportation (Mar 2025)
Deportations
In March 2025, Kilmar Abrego Garcia was illegally deported to CECOT despite a court order protecting him. The Justice Department admitted the deportation was "in error." District Judge Paula Xinis ordered his return. On April 10, 2025, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the order. He was returned June 6, 2025, but immediately indicted on smuggling charges. His defense raised a "vindictive prosecution" claim.
5 connectionsAlien Enemies Act Invocation (Mar 15, 2025)
Legislation
The Trump administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 — last used for Japanese internment in WWII — to deport alleged Tren de Aragua members without court proceedings. 238 Venezuelans deported to CECOT (137 under AEA, 101 under regular law). Flights departed despite a federal judge's TRO in J.G.G. v. Trump. On September 3, 2025, an appeals court blocked further use. On December 22, 2025, a judge ruled the deportations violated due process.
2 connectionsChicago Preschool Raid (Nov 5, 2025)
Raids
On November 5, 2025, armed ICE officers chased teacher Diana Santillana Galeano ("Miss Diana") into Rayito de Sol preschool in Chicago and arrested her as parents and children looked on. Parents filmed from the drop-off line. Interior camera footage described as "some of the most chilling video footage" of the crackdown. The incident went viral and became a symbol of the abandonment of sensitive-location protections.
2 connectionsDay Without Immigrants (Feb 3, 2025)
Protests & Strikes
On February 3, 2025, businesses nationwide closed and immigrants stayed home from work and school to highlight immigrant contributions to the economy. Thousands participated in LA, Chicago, Philadelphia, Seattle, NYC, Dallas, Houston, and many other cities. A precursor to the larger protests that would follow the Minneapolis killings.
1 connectionHyundai Plant Raid, Georgia (Sep 4, 2025)
Raids
Largest single-site worksite enforcement action in DHS history. ~475 workers arrested at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant in Ellabell, Georgia. Multi-agency: ICE, FBI, IRS, ATF, DEA, Georgia State Patrol. Majority detained were South Korean nationals (300+), plus Mexican, Japanese, Chinese, and Indonesian workers. Sparked diplomatic dispute between US and South Korea — images of handcuffed Korean workers caused outrage in Seoul.
2 connectionsKilling of Alex Pretti (Jan 24, 2026)
Shootings
On January 24, 2026, CBP agents Jesus Ochoa and Raymundo Gutierrez shot and killed Alex Pretti, 37, a VA ICU nurse, in Minneapolis's Whittier neighborhood. 10 shots fired in under 5 seconds. Pretti was filming agents. Multiple bystander videos verified by Reuters contradicted DHS claims. Medical examiner ruled homicide. DOJ opened civil rights investigation. Commander Bovino's false "massacre" claim led to his removal.
4 connectionsKilling of Renee Good (Jan 7, 2026)
Shootings
On January 7, 2026, ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed Renee Nicole Macklin Good, 37, a U.S. citizen and mother of three, in Minneapolis during Operation Metro Surge. Ross fired three shots as her car moved forward. Bystander video went viral — 82% of registered voters saw it. Minneapolis Police Chief O'Hara called it "predictable and preventable." Her death directly sparked the Minnesota general strike.
4 connections
Laken Riley Act Signed (Jan 29, 2025)
Legislation
First bill signed into law during Trump's second term, January 29, 2025. Senate voted 64-35 with 12 Democrats joining. Mandates detention of undocumented immigrants accused (not convicted) of theft, burglary, assault on police, and other crimes. Gives states the right to sue the federal government over immigration. 17,500 arrests under Laken Riley authority through December 2025.
1 connectionMayor Baraka Arrest (May 9, 2025)
Arrests
On May 9, 2025, Newark Mayor Baraka and three Congress members were arrested at Delaney Hall ICE facility while conducting oversight. Charged with trespassing, held ~5 hours. On May 21, federal Judge Espinosa dismissed charges, calling the arrest "hasty" and "a worrying misstep." On June 3, Baraka sued federal officials for false arrest.
2 connectionsMinnesota General Strike (Jan 23, 2026)
Protests & Strikes
On January 23, 2026, the first general strike in the United States in approximately 80 years. Over 50,000 people marched through downtown Minneapolis in temperatures as low as -20°F. 700+ Minnesota businesses closed in solidarity. ~100 clergy arrested at a protest against deportation flights. Unions including SEIU Local 26, UNITE HERE Local 17, CWA Local 7250, and the Minneapolis and St. Paul Federations of Educators endorsed the strike. Bruce Springsteen released "Streets of Minneapolis" on January 28 honoring Good and Pretti — #1 on iTunes in 19 countries.
4 connectionsNational Shutdown (Jan 30, 2026)
Protests & Strikes
On January 30, 2026, the "National Shutdown" / "ICE Out" brought 300+ protests to cities across the US. Minneapolis remained the epicenter. National partners included Defend Immigrant Families, CAIR, Poor People's Campaign, LA Tenants Union, and student organizations. Actors Pedro Pascal and Hannah Einbinder and rapper Macklemore promoted the strike on social media. Over the weekend (Jan 31-Feb 1), 600+ events attended by tens of thousands. A PBS/Marist poll found 65% of Americans said ICE had gone too far.
2 connectionsOperation Metro Surge (Minneapolis, Dec 2025+)
Operations
Launched December 1, 2025. Formally announced December 4. On January 6, 2026, DHS called it "the largest immigration enforcement operation ever carried out," deploying ~2,000 agents (later ~3,000 — more than Minneapolis and St. Paul police forces combined). Led by Gregory Bovino until his removal after the Pretti killing. DHS claimed 3,000+ arrests by January 19 and 4,000+ by February. Only ~5% of arrestees had violent crime records. Resulted in two American civilians killed (Good, Pretti), one Venezuelan shot (Sosa-Celis), the Minnesota general strike, and the National Shutdown.
8 connectionsOperation Midway Blitz (Chicago, Sep 2025)
Operations
Launched September 8, 2025, named in honor of Katie Abraham. Multi-agency surge in Illinois and Lake County, Indiana. Over 1,800 arrests reported by DHS. Hundreds of federal agents deployed with documented use of force. During this operation, Silverio Villegas Gonzalez was shot and killed by ICE, and U.S. citizen Marimar Martinez was shot 5 times by Border Patrol.
4 connectionsOperation Safeguard (Jan 2025)
Operations
First major operation, originally planned for January 21, 2025, but delayed due to targeting leaks. Coordinated by ICE field agents out of Chicago, bypassing Biden-era leadership. Multi-city raids on January 23 hit Atlanta, Boston, Denver, Miami, NYC, Newark, Philadelphia, Seattle, and DC. 538 immigrants detained.
4 connections