In recent months, the United States has witnessed a dramatic escalation in immigration enforcement, with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents employing increasingly aggressive tactics across several states. From courthouse arrests in Connecticut to high-profile detentions in California and Michigan, and even a father apprehended near an elementary school in Ann Arbor, the reach and methods of ICE have become a flashpoint for lawmakers, advocates, and affected communities alike.
On August 11, 2025, a stark incident unfolded in Stamford, Connecticut, when three ICE agents entered a courthouse without a warrant and arrested two men hiding in a bathroom. This event, as reported by The Connecticut Mirror, marked a significant shift: previously, ICE agents had limited their activities to outside courthouse grounds, a practice that had been standard since January 2025. The change set off alarm bells among state lawmakers and immigrant advocates, who argue that the ability to safely access the justice system is now under direct threat for Connecticut residents.
Just days later, on August 20, ICE’s Boston Office announced the completion of "Operation Broken Trust," a four-day operation that resulted in the arrest of 65 immigrants in Connecticut. According to the advocacy group Greater Danbury Unites for Immigrants, federal agents were seen regularly at the Danbury courthouse during this sweep. Social media videos captured confrontations between ICE officers—some masked and dressed in tactical gear—and advocacy groups in courthouse parking lots, as officials arrested individuals in plain view.
These incidents are not isolated. Data from the Deportation Data Project reveals that in the first half of 2025, ICE arrests in Connecticut more than doubled compared to the same period in 2024, while deportations tripled. Such figures fuel concerns that ICE’s focus has shifted from targeting violent offenders to casting a much wider net. In Michigan, for example, The Detroit News reported that from January through late July 2025, the Detroit ICE field office arrested over 3,100 people—65% of whom had pending charges or were never charged with any crime at all. This stark statistic underscores the mismatch between official rhetoric and on-the-ground reality.
Amidst these developments, a group of 21 Democratic Connecticut state senators, led by Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney and Deputy Majority Leader Bob Duff, sent a letter on September 3 to Chief Justice Raheem Mullins. They called for an order banning ICE arrests or detentions in state courthouses, citing the Stamford and Danbury incidents as evidence that courthouses are no longer the “safe havens” they ought to be. Their letter, as shared by The Connecticut Mirror, emphasized that “Connecticut residents cannot access the justice system without fear of potential apprehension by ICE.”
The senators’ demands went beyond a simple ban. They requested the Judicial Branch implement additional protections, such as limiting the publication of court dates online, allowing electronic court appearances, requiring federal agents to provide names and badge numbers to courthouse security, and barring face coverings inside courthouses. Chief Justice Mullins responded, stating he is “committed to making sure our courthouses are safe spaces of fairness and protection for all who use them,” and promised to employ all legally supported methods to achieve this goal.
Not everyone agrees with the senators’ approach. Rep. Greg Howard, a leading Republican on the legislature’s Public Safety Committee, criticized the proposal, arguing it would prevent federal officials from arresting unauthorized immigrants who have broken the law and put the public at risk. “Too often the Trust Act prevents local law enforcement from coordinating with ICE to arrange safe, controlled transfers,” Howard said. “Instead of allowing orderly arrests in secure environments, this policy forces dangerous, transient individuals to be released on the hope they’ll return to court and avoid further crimes.”
Meanwhile, advocates like Constanza Segovia of Hartford Deportation Defense and Karen Hunter of Greater Danbury Unites for Immigrants have called for even broader protections. They warn that fear of deportation is deterring victims, witnesses, and family members from participating in the justice system at all. Hunter recounted witnessing a father of two detained near the Danbury Superior Courthouse, saying, “If people fear deportation when going to court, they effectively lose access to the entire justice system.”
Elsewhere in the country, ICE’s methods are drawing scrutiny and outrage. In Los Angeles on August 15, 2025, Tatiana Martinez, a 24-year-old social media influencer, was arrested by ICE agents while livestreaming on TikTok to more than 40,000 followers. As reported by NBC News and The Independent, Martinez was dragged out of her Tesla by at least three officers, placed face down on the ground, and later reported shortness of breath before being taken to a hospital. Her attorney, Carlos Jurado, contends Martinez was targeted because she had documented ICE activity online, and that officers made comments about her recording their actions—suggesting retaliation for her public exposure of their tactics. Martinez, who was convicted of DUI in 2023, is currently detained in Calexico, California, and faces a preliminary hearing on September 11.
ICE’s tactics have become more visible—and controversial. According to NPR, agents have been observed grabbing people off the streets, pulling them into unmarked vehicles, running checkpoints in cities like Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, and even smashing car windows to extract suspects. Masked, plain-clothed agents have become a common sight, fueling fear in immigrant communities and drawing condemnation from civil rights groups. While federal law grants ICE broad authority to question and detain suspected undocumented immigrants, legal experts warn that the line between what is permitted and what is excessive is increasingly blurred.
In Ann Arbor, Michigan, the reach of ICE was felt on September 4, 2025, when a father was detained by agents on a residential street after dropping his child off at Lakewood Elementary School. School officials quickly notified families about ICE presence in the area, stressing that the incident did not occur on school property and was not witnessed by students. Still, the event rattled the local community, highlighting how ICE’s activities now touch even the most routine aspects of daily life.
As lawmakers, advocates, and communities grapple with these sweeping enforcement actions, one thing is clear: the debate over the scope and methods of federal immigration enforcement is far from settled. With court challenges, legislative proposals, and public protests mounting, the coming months will test not only the legal boundaries of ICE’s authority but also the nation’s commitment to justice, due process, and the humane treatment of all residents—regardless of immigration status.
