Guardian US immigration reporter Maanvi Singh has been covering the Trump administration’s aggressive Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) crackdown, which has seen federal agents occupy American cities over the past year. The operation has led to violent incidents, including the killing of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by federal officials in Minneapolis, as well as a strong community response as residents band together to protect neighbours.
In a Q&A session, Singh addressed public concerns about the crackdown. Polling indicates that support for the administration’s immigration enforcement is slipping: a February survey found 65% of Americans believe ICE has “gone too far”, an 11-point increase from the previous summer. In cities directly affected, such as Chicago, approval of Trump’s immigration handling stands at just 35%.
Singh also discussed the role of Project 2025, a conservative blueprint that called for mandatory detention of immigrants with pending cases, expansion of detention facilities, and closer cooperation between ICE and Customs and Border Patrol. While agencies have not been officially merged, they are increasingly working together in cities like Chicago, Minneapolis and Los Angeles.
Regarding the situation in Minneapolis, Mayor Jacob Frey estimates fewer than 400 federal immigration officers remain in the region, down from a peak of 3,000. However, residents remain wary, with reports of officers stopping people outside schools, churches and bus stops. Physicians note that many immigrants, regardless of legal status, are living in fear.
