ICE Operation in West Virginia Yields Over 650 Arrests in Two-Week Surge
Joint effort with local law enforcement targets immigration violators with criminal backgrounds
A massive two-week operation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement across West Virginia has resulted in the arrest of more than 650 undocumented immigrants, officials announced this week. The operation, dubbed “Country Roads,” ran from January 5 to January 19, 2025, and specifically targeted individuals with criminal convictions or outstanding deportation orders.
“We couldn’t have done it without the help of the state and locals,” said Michael Rose, acting field office director in the Philadelphia region for ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, in comments obtained by West Virginia MetroNews.
The operation’s success hinged on collaboration between federal immigration authorities and local law enforcement through what are known as 287(g) agreements, which allow state and local agencies to perform certain immigration enforcement functions. More than 550 of the arrests involved agencies participating in the 287(g) program, with 25 West Virginia entities having signed such agreements, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia, which announced the operation’s results.
Authorities say those arrested included individuals with violent criminal histories, including convictions for child sexual abuse and drug possession. The operation was part of a broader effort to target immigration violators who pose public safety risks.
“This operation demonstrates how strong partnerships between ICE and West Virginia law enforcement agencies enhance public safety and the integrity of our immigration system,” Rose stated in a press release.
What makes West Virginia’s approach different from other states? The level of cooperation between local and federal authorities appears to be a key factor.
West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey emphasized this point, telling Fox News, “I think the most important thing to notice here is that West Virginia and similarly situated states… have made it very, very easy for criminal illegal aliens to be picked up and processed by ICE.”
The operation stands in contrast to policies in so-called “sanctuary” jurisdictions, where local authorities limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Such policies have been a flashpoint in the national immigration debate, with critics arguing they protect criminals and supporters contending they build trust with immigrant communities.
But the West Virginia model presents its own set of questions. Civil liberties groups have long expressed concerns about 287(g) agreements, suggesting they can lead to racial profiling and erode trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement.
Still, ICE officials are touting the operation as a model of successful interagency cooperation. Details about the specific charges against those arrested or their current detention status weren’t fully disclosed in the initial announcements.
The two-week surge represents one of the larger coordinated immigration enforcement actions in recent years, at least at the state level, and comes amid continued national debate over border security and immigration policy. Whether other states will adopt similar approaches remains to be seen, but West Virginia officials are clearly positioning their collaboration as a template for enhancing immigration enforcement across the country.
