Washington, DC, has become a testing ground for a new, more aggressive approach to immigration enforcement, as federal and local agencies join forces to crack down on illegal moped drivers and expand nationwide deportation efforts. The shift comes amid a wave of policy changes and high-profile initiatives from the Trump administration, with the Pentagon now actively recruiting civilian employees to help Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operations across the United States.
On August 21, 2025, ICE began working directly with Washington, DC police to enforce traffic and licensing laws against the city’s growing number of illegal moped drivers, according to the Washington Post. This move came after local prosecutors had repeatedly released arrested moped drivers, making earlier crackdowns largely ineffective. Now, with ICE stepping in, drivers found to be in the country illegally are detained and face deportation, marking a significant escalation in local enforcement tactics.
ICE officers now shadow DC police during traffic stops, checking immigration status immediately after police verify permits. As one DC police officer explained to the Washington Post, ICE agents "are in the back while we make the stop. Then while we are verifying permit status, they are using that information to determine immigration status." This coordinated approach aims to address the dangers posed by moped drivers who, according to DC City Council Member Chander Jayaraman, are "driving haphazardly. There is no instruction or guidance even for the users on what they’re supposed to do legally." Jayaraman told NewsNation, "I think that is an area we can definitely do better."
The crackdown comes amid growing concern over safety and crime linked to moped use in the city. Many drivers use mopeds to deliver food and other goods, often weaving through traffic and ignoring basic road rules. Delivery companies like Uber and DoorDash, as NewsNation reported, struggle to verify the legal work status of drivers, who typically only need to provide a driver’s license and Social Security number—documents that can be easily faked or stolen. There are no requirements to test whether drivers can read English or understand road signs, raising further safety concerns.
Beyond traffic violations, mopeds have become tools for more serious crimes. Migrants have been implicated in thefts involving phones, jewelry, and expensive bicycles, a pattern that has alarmed both residents and law enforcement. The issue gained national attention after a violent incident in New York City’s Washington Heights on August 17, 2025. Lahione Soto, a 30-year-old illegal immigrant from the Dominican Republic who crossed the Texas border in 2024, was shot and killed by an NYPD officer after pulling a gun during a traffic stop. Soto was suspected of several robberies, according to the New York Post.
This local enforcement surge fits into a much broader federal campaign. The Pentagon has begun recruiting its civilian workforce—nearly 950,000 strong—to join a "volunteer force" supporting ICE and CBP operations nationwide. According to The Guardian and 404Media, the Department of Defense (DoD) posted job listings and sent emails to civilian employees, asking them to sign up for deployments of up to 180 days at immigration enforcement facilities across the country. The Secretary of Defense’s memorandum, signed on June 1, 2025, by Pete Hegseth, authorizes these details "in support of the President’s priority of securing our borders."
Volunteer roles include data entry, operational planning support, processing and throughput logistics, and logistical support. Assignments require 76% or greater travel, come with no remote work options, and deployment locations are not negotiable. Conditions "could be austere," the job posting warns, and relocation expenses will not be reimbursed. Salaries for these positions range from about $25,684 to $191,900 annually, and employees maintain their salary and benefits while deployed.
The Pentagon confirmed to The Guardian that these deployments are meant to "offer critical support" to ICE and CBP "as they fulfill the President’s intent to ensure a safe and orderly immigration system." The scale of the initiative remains unclear, as the Pentagon declined to specify how many civilian employees are expected to participate.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration is rapidly expanding its immigration enforcement apparatus. The recently signed Big Beautiful Bill Act allocates funding for an additional 10,000 ICE agents, with signing bonuses of up to $50,000 and reduced age requirements to attract new recruits. ICE has also begun offering more lucrative incentives and has reassigned dozens of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) employees to assist with enforcement, according to the Washington Post.
Infrastructure is growing as well. New detention facilities are being established in Nebraska and Florida, as well as at military installations like Fort Bliss in Texas, which now houses migrants in tent structures with a capacity for 5,000 people. ICE arrests have surged nationwide, with northern California experiencing a staggering 123% increase in detentions between January and July 2025 compared to late 2024, according to agency data.
These changes are being promoted as part of a broader public relations campaign. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem announced last week that approximately 1.6 million undocumented immigrants had left the US during her first 200 days in office. To further publicize these efforts, DHS is preparing a $20-50 million ad campaign titled “Stronger Border, Stronger America,” set to launch in September 2025.
The deployment of ICE agents alongside local police for routine traffic enforcement is not limited to Washington, DC. Across the country, federal agents now accompany police officers during stops that target food delivery drivers, many of whom are from Central or South America. This approach, as reported by the Washington Post, is designed to catch undocumented immigrants who might otherwise evade detection through minor infractions.
The new enforcement wave has sparked debate among DC officials, law enforcement, and residents. Some see the increased federal involvement as a necessary response to rising crime and road safety issues, while others worry about the potential for overreach and the impact on immigrant communities. As Council Member Jayaraman put it, the lack of clear legal guidance for moped drivers and the patchwork of enforcement measures highlight just how complex and contentious the situation has become.
With federal agencies mobilizing resources, expanding personnel, and launching high-profile media campaigns, the nation’s approach to immigration enforcement is entering a new and uncertain chapter. Whether these efforts will lead to safer streets and a more orderly immigration system—or provoke further controversy and legal challenges—remains to be seen. For now, Washington, DC, stands at the center of a rapidly evolving national experiment in immigration policy and law enforcement.
