Data from 2026 indicates that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is averaging more than 1,100 arrests per day, nearly double the pace from spring of the prior year, with custodial arrests—those involving transfers from local law enforcement custody—accounting for about half of nationwide totals. According to the analyzed figures, these custodial arrests occur more frequently in Republican-led states where local agencies cooperate closely with federal immigration authorities. In contrast, sanctuary jurisdictions with policies limiting such cooperation record fewer transfers. The Miami field office, covering Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, recorded nearly 10,000 arrests from mid-December through March 10, outpacing offices in Dallas, Atlanta, and San Antonio. Florida and San Antonio have maintained steady or climbing arrest numbers without reliance on high-profile raids. Meanwhile, Los Angeles and Chicago, sites of prominent enforcement operations, saw arrests peak and subsequently decline, with Chicago's office covering six states remaining below the national per capita average. A Wall Street Journal report referenced in the source states that President Trump has directed advisers to lower the profile of deportation efforts, prioritizing "bread-and-butter arrests" of criminal aliens in local custody, influenced by White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and border czar Tom Homan. The New York Times data highlights that high-visibility operations have not always correlated with sustained arrest increases. Perspectives on sanctuary policies differ: some officials argue they restrict coordination and affect enforcement outcomes, while advocates maintain these policies encourage community trust in local law enforcement and avoid entanglement in federal immigration actions. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted the need for state and local cooperation to reduce the necessity of street-level operations. This reporting draws from secondary analysis of primary agency statistics and news accounts rather than direct primary documents. Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/political/data-shows-where-ice-has-been-more-effective-and-why