Heng Guan, a Chinese national and activist, has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after documenting human rights abuses against Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China. His apprehension in August 2025 while working in New York has sparked concerns about potential persecution if he is deported back to China. Despite presenting valid identification, Guan has been fighting deportation, with initial plans to send him to Uganda under a third-country migrant deal later withdrawn. His case has garnered public support, particularly from the NGO Human Rights in China, highlighting the broader implications of state aggression against dissidents.

In response to increasing immigration raids, grassroots movements have emerged in cities like Los Angeles and Chicago, where community members have organized rapid-response teams to monitor ICE activities. Activists have utilized platforms such as Signal and Zoom to alert their networks about arrests, while in Minneapolis, volunteers have confronted federal agents directly. These initiatives reflect a growing resistance to aggressive immigration enforcement policies, particularly under the Trump administration, which has been characterized by heightened militarization and scrutiny of immigrant communities.

Concerns have also been raised regarding ICE's recruitment practices. Laura Jedeed, a journalist, reported her experience at an ICE Career Expo, where she was offered a position as a deportation officer after a brief interview, despite her known opposition to the agency. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) contested her account, asserting that a Tentative Selection Letter does not equate to a formal job offer. However, Jedeed's experience has prompted questions about the adequacy of ICE's vetting process, particularly as the agency seeks to expand its workforce significantly.

Additionally, an error in the artificial intelligence (AI) tool used by ICE to process applications has led to recruits being assigned to field offices without proper training. The AI misclassified applicants based on the term "officer" in their résumés, resulting in individuals lacking law enforcement experience being flagged as qualified. This misclassification raises concerns about the training and preparedness of new recruits, especially in light of recent incidents involving ICE operations that have drawn public backlash.

ICE's initiative to hire 10,000 new officers by the end of 2025, supported by congressional funding, has faced scrutiny from local law enforcement and community organizations. The operational effectiveness of this recruitment surge is questioned, particularly following incidents of violence involving ICE officers. The implications of these recruitment practices and enforcement actions underscore the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration policy and the treatment of vulnerable populations in the U.S.