Recent leaks have disclosed a range of covert operations conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), including programs with codenames such as Operations Benchwarmer, Tidal Wave, and Abracadabra. These operations involve collaboration with various federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, indicating a significant expansion of ICE's role in intelligence gathering and policing. A 15-page document marked 'LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE' outlines 21 major ICE operations that have reportedly led to 6,852 apprehensions since June.

Among these operations, Operation A focuses on developing informants within immigrant detention facilities, while Operation Benchwarmer involves deploying 2,000 intelligence assets nationwide. The leaked documents suggest that ICE's activities extend beyond traditional immigration enforcement, positioning the agency as a parallel force to the FBI and DEA, with a mission that has evolved to include intelligence operations against perceived threats, including domestic groups labeled as extremist.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees ICE, has become the largest federal law enforcement agency in the U.S., surpassing the FBI. This growth has been accompanied by a substantial increase in ICE's budget, which nearly tripled in the previous year. Operations like Abracadabra aim to gather intelligence on individuals apprehended, linking them to foreign terrorist organizations or transnational criminal organizations.

The lack of transparency surrounding these operations has raised concerns among some within the DHS and the Justice Department, particularly following the death of an individual during an ICE operation. Reports indicate that this incident has led to resignations among federal prosecutors in Minnesota and growing discontent within the FBI regarding ICE's aggressive tactics. Critics argue that such actions may undermine public trust in law enforcement and highlight the need for accountability and adherence to legal standards in enforcement practices.