ICE enforcement surges in Southern California, study finds

A study by the Deportation Data Project, led by UCLA professor Graeme Blair, documents a significant increase in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Southern California throughout 2025 and 2026. The research indicates that Los Angeles served as a testing ground for new enforcement strategies, with arrests occurring in non-traditional locations such as USCIS appointments, courtrooms, residential neighborhoods, and retail parking lots.

Data shows that arrests outside of prisons and jails in the Los Angeles jurisdiction rose from fewer than 200 per month in 2024 to over 1,700 in June 2025. The profile of those detained has shifted significantly: arrests of individuals without criminal convictions increased by more than 3,400%, while those without firm deportation orders rose by nearly 1,400% during the June 2025 peak.

Additionally, legal guidance from California Attorney General Rob Bonta clarifies that ICE agents may enter certain public-access areas on university campuses—such as parking lots, plazas, and sidewalks—without a judicial warrant. While classrooms and restricted offices remain protected under the Fourth Amendment, university officials noted their limited ability to prevent federal agents from patrolling open campus spaces.