Local officials, including Mayor Todd Gloria and U.S. Representative Scott Peters, criticized ICE's operations, arguing they undermine community trust and instill fear, contradicting claims of enhancing public safety.

The owners of Buona Forchetta, a restaurant affected by a chaotic ICE raid in San Diego, expressed heartbreak over the incident, emphasizing its lasting emotional impact on their staff and the community.

This raid, which resulted in four arrests, was marked by unrest from bystanders and the use of flash-bang devices by ICE agents, leading to further condemnation from local leaders.

Lyons criticized sanctuary jurisdictions for obstructing the detainment of illegal immigrants, asserting that such operations would be unnecessary if these cities altered their policies.

In contrast, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and other Democratic mayors defended sanctuary policies at a congressional hearing, arguing that these measures do not contribute to crime and protect law-abiding residents from federal enforcement fears.

The Department of Homeland Security recently faced backlash for publishing a controversial list of sanctuary jurisdictions, which it later removed, as it included areas that support strict immigration policies.

In a separate incident, a large-scale raid at a nightclub in South Carolina resulted in the arrests of 66 individuals linked to drug-related activities, underscoring the ongoing national enforcement actions by ICE.

Lyons leads ICE during a period of significant organizational changes, playing a crucial role in the mass deportation agenda that has been a hallmark of the Trump administration.

These events highlight the ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and local policies, as discussions about immigration reform and public safety continue to unfold.

Amid rising criticism, Todd Lyons, the Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), defended the agency's aggressive tactics as arrests surged nationwide, particularly in Massachusetts where nearly 1,500 immigrants were detained in May 2025.

Lyons reported an alarming increase in arrests, averaging 1,600 per day, a stark rise from the previous average of 656, and highlighted a goal set by Stephen Miller for 3,000 daily arrests, which poses a significant challenge to current resources.

He justified the use of masks by ICE agents, citing safety concerns due to doxxing and death threats against them and their families.