Why It Matters
Immigration enforcement patterns in local jails across the United States vary sharply based on state sanctuary policies, with significant implications for both immigration compliance and local law enforcement resources. The divergence reveals how state-level cooperation decisions directly shape the volume of federal arrests made within county detention facilities.
What Happened
An analysis of data through March 10, 2025, found that states with strict non-cooperation policies—Oregon, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Washington—report the lowest rates of immigration-related arrests in local jails. Conversely, states that limit or bar sanctuary policies show substantially higher rates, with Wyoming, West Virginia, Mississippi, and Alabama leading in arrest volume.
New Mexico presents a notable exception among border states. Despite some statewide policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities, the state has recorded the highest jail immigration arrest rates in the nation. That discrepancy triggered legal action in July when New Mexico’s state ethics commission sued the corrections department over alleged violations of state law restricting most forms of cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
The enforcement landscape shifted significantly after the Trump administration took office on January 20, 2025. Initial border enforcement operations, including Operation Metro Surge concentrated in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area over winter, resulted in two killings by federal agents and hundreds of millions in business losses before concluding. The administration replaced Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on March 5, with Markwayne Mullin assuming the role on March 31.
Immigration enforcement strategy appears to be evolving. Border czar Tom Homan previously stated he would “flood the zone” with street enforcement in sanctuary cities. However, Mullin pledged a more measured approach upon taking office. According to reporting on the enforcement environment, “We don’t have that problem in Florida, where every sheriff is working with us,” Homan told the Indiana Capital Chronicle, highlighting regional variation in cooperation levels.
By the Numbers
5 — states with strict non-cooperation policies showing lowest jail immigration arrest rates (Oregon, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Washington)
4 — states with highest jail immigration arrest rates and limited sanctuary policies (Wyoming, West Virginia, Mississippi, Alabama)
51,000 — immigration arrests made by ICE in July 2025, a record figure
17,100 — noncitizens counted in West Virginia during 2024, with hundreds arrested in a single surge team operation in January
81% — percentage of Washington, D.C. street arrests for immigration-related offenses only
66% or more — percentage of street arrests for immigration-related offenses only in 14 other states with statewide sanctuary policies
300+ arrests per 10,000 noncitizens — rate in Wyoming, West Virginia, Mississippi, Alabama, and New Mexico through March 10, 2025
Zoom Out
The correlation between sanctuary policies and arrest rates reflects a national tension between local law enforcement autonomy and federal immigration enforcement priorities. States have increasingly adopted different approaches to cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), ranging from explicit non-cooperation statutes to active participation in federal detention and removal operations.
This variation mirrors broader debates over federalism and immigration enforcement authority. Some jurisdictions argue that local police resources should focus on public safety rather than immigration compliance, while others contend that cooperation strengthens overall law enforcement coordination. The Trump administration’s approach emphasizes higher enforcement volume and closer state-local-federal alignment, a strategy that differs markedly from the prior administration’s posture.
New Jersey’s legislature recently stepped back from proposed changes that would have made it harder for ICE to conduct arrests in local jails, signaling that even some states without explicit sanctuary policies may resist certain enforcement mechanisms.
What’s Next
The enforcement environment will likely continue to shift as Mullin’s Homeland Security Department implements its strategy. States with sanctuary policies face ongoing pressure to maintain enforcement boundaries, while states cooperating with ICE may see continued high arrest volumes. New Mexico’s legal dispute over cooperation violations will test the enforceability of state restrictions on federal coordination.
Immigration detention patterns in local facilities remain a focal point for federal enforcement expansion, particularly in states without sanctuary protections. How local sheriff departments balance federal requests against state policy directives will shape enforcement outcomes in coming months.