2025 has witnessed an unprecedented increase in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids under the new “Operation Safeguard,” which has sparked intense protests in several U.S. cities.
Hispanic communities and immigrant rights advocates denounce the aggressive nature, lack of transparency and emotional impact of these raids.
Operation Safeguard
Operation Safeguard 2025 is a federal strategy that has prioritized arrests in areas with high immigrant populations.
Many of them are designated as sanctuary cities, where local authorities limit their cooperation with ICE.
Although the federal government claims that these actions are focused on “dangerous criminals,” multiple news reports, including statements from immigration attorneys and civil rights advocates, confirm that many of the detainees do not have serious criminal records.
They even have no criminal record whatsoever.
Most affected cities
The most notorious ICE raids have occurred in:
New York: Numerous immigrants were detained while attending their immigration hearings in Manhattan courts.
This sparked demonstrations in front of federal buildings.
Activist groups claim that agents use courthouses as “hunting grounds”.
La Operación Safeguard 2025 es una estrategia federal que ha priorizado arrestos en zonas de alta población inmigrante
San Diego: In San Diego County, ICE raids included restaurants and businesses frequented by immigrants.
An operation at the Buona Forchetta restaurant generated strong protests, with the use of smoke grenades to disperse demonstrators.
Minneapolis: ICE agents raided restaurants such as Las Cuatro Milpas.
Although officially described by the agency as an operation against organized crime, the lack of transparency about the charges generates mistrust.
ICE tactics: use of force and opacity
One of the most criticized aspects of these operations is the use of covert tactics:
Hooded agents, vehicles without license plates, tinted windows and lack of official identification.
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons has defended these methods by alleging death threats against agents and their families.
However, organizations such as the ACLU and Make the Road New York denounce that these tactics generate fear and violate basic rights.
According to figures from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) itself, there has been a disturbing 400% increase in physical assaults against ICE agents since the operation began.
Nationwide protests
The climate of tension has escalated to national calls for protests.
Organizations such as the 50501 Movement and ACLU announced mass marches for June 14, 2025, demanding greater transparency and the suspension of raids in public and judicial spaces.
What should immigrants know?
For immigrants in the U.S., especially those in the Hispanic community, it is critical:
Know your rights: Do not open the door without a signed court order. Right to remain silent and request counsel.
Use alert applications: Tools such as Padlet Immigration Map allow you to know in real time the locations where ICE raids are taking place.
Seek legal support: Contact reliable legal aid organizations before going to immigration appointments or if you have a deportation order.
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com.
