Where Are There More Raids? The States with the Most ICE Arrests

The pace of immigration enforcement operations has changed in the United States and with it, the geography of fear. Detentions no longer occupy the front pages of national news broadcasts every day. However, concern in many immigrant communities has not diminished. It has simply become quieter and affects states in the center and south of the country in a much more direct way than in previous years.

Community organizations report that anxiety is forcing Latino families to modify their daily routines. Today, many avoid driving long distances and miss work for fear of being detained. Additionally, they prepare emergency plans to ensure the care of their children in case of arrest.

This level of daily stress has a justification based on official data. The most recent figures show that immigration arrests have experienced a sharp increase since the start of the current presidential term. Furthermore, far from concentrating only on the border, operations have intensified in the Midwest and central plains. These are areas that were traditionally not considered hotspots for high immigration enforcement.

Which States Record the Most ICE Arrests?

Information obtained by the Deportation Data Project reveals a clear picture of the increase in detentions. This project is independent and requests data directly from immigration agencies through the Freedom of Information Act. It also documented that arrests grew more than 30% in states such as Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Missouri.

The case of Missouri is especially illustrative of this new trend. According to figures released by the Deportation Data Project and cited by local broadcaster KCUR, more than 3,200 people from nearly 80 different countries were arrested in that state since January 2025. This demonstrates that the pressure from the immigration agency has been firmly installed in medium-sized cities and rural areas, even in small businesses far from the border.

Texas, for its part, continues to occupy a central place in the map of detentions. Its proximity to Mexico and its large Latino population influence this role. State cooperation policies with federal agencies also contribute to this. This makes it one of the most sensitive territories. An arrest in Texas often means rapid family separation and immediate loss of household income.

Why Are Detentions Different Now?

It is important to clarify that not all current operations are mass raids in the traditional sense. Although the typical image is that of immigration agents surrounding a factory or a neighborhood, many arrests by the agency occur individually and quietly. They often happen after minor traffic stops, at visits to local courts, or as a result of previous arrests for non-immigration crimes.