Amid Scrutiny Over Epstein Files, Immigration Raids Intensify Across U.S. Cities

WASHINGTON — Dec. 22, 2025 — As the Trump administration faces mounting criticism for its handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files — including heavy redactions and the unexplained removal of documents from a government website — a surge in immigration enforcement operations has unfolded in cities nationwide. Critics, including Democratic lawmakers and immigrant rights advocates, have accused the administration of using these raids as a diversion tactic, while officials insist they are targeting serious criminals in defiance of local sanctuary policies.

The controversy stems from the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law by President Trump on Nov. 19, 2025, which mandated the Justice Department to release all unclassified records related to the late financier’s sex-trafficking investigations by Dec. 19. Instead, the department unveiled thousands of pages last week, but with extensive blackouts that obscured key details, including names of high-profile associates. At least 16 files vanished from the public DOJ portal shortly after upload, among them photographs of Mr. Trump with Epstein, prompting accusations of a cover-up.

Senator Jeff Merkley, Democrat of Oregon and a lead sponsor of the act, condemned the release as a violation of the law. “This isn’t transparency; it’s obfuscation,” Mr. Merkley said in a statement. “The American people deserve the full truth about Epstein’s network and any ties to powerful figures.” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the redactions, citing national security and privacy concerns, but declined to explain the deletions. Insiders familiar with the process, speaking on condition of anonymity, suggested internal debates over politically sensitive material delayed compliance, fueling speculation that the administration sought to shield Mr. Trump, who has long denied wrongdoing in his Epstein associations.

Amid this backlash, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents have ramped up operations in what officials describe as targeted surges against “the worst of the worst” criminal noncitizens. Beginning Dec. 1, “Operation Metro Surge” in Minneapolis has led to over 400 arrests, primarily of individuals with convictions for drug trafficking, assault, and sexual offenses, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Similar efforts have extended to Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Nashville, and other cities, where videos and eyewitness accounts have captured tense confrontations.

In Pittsburgh’s Mount Washington neighborhood, a Dec. 17 raid on Norton Street drew widespread attention after cellphone footage showed agents detaining a man amid cries of “I can’t breathe.” Witnesses reported agents placing a knee on the suspect’s neck during the struggle, echoing past controversies over police tactics. The man, whose identity remains undisclosed, was heard pleading as bystanders pleaded for restraint. Pittsburgh police, not involved in the operation, responded only to provide medical evaluation, per a department statement. ICE has not commented on the incident, but a spokesperson emphasized that arrests focus on those with outstanding warrants or felony records.

Similar scenes played out in Minneapolis, where agents allegedly dragged a pregnant woman from a vehicle during a Dec. 15 enforcement action. Protesters hurled snowballs as the woman, handcuffed and reportedly in distress, was pulled by one arm. “She’s pregnant! Let her up!” onlookers shouted in viral clips. The operation targeted undocumented immigrants in Somali communities, drawing protests from thousands who marched through south Minneapolis, decrying racial profiling. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker labeled the tactics “harassment,” urging residents to “peacefully protect your neighbors.” In Buffalo, New York, agents interrupted roofers at a construction site, pointing guns and forcing workers to the ground, according to homeowner accounts. “These people were just fixing my house,” one resident told local media.

In Nashville, a particularly harrowing case involved Esther Lopez Sanchez, arrested last year on drug-related charges that were later dropped. While pregnant, she gave birth in custody, only for her U.S.-citizen infant to be placed in state care. Advocates argue the separation violates due process, with attorney Andrew Ranken noting, “Parents have a right to raise their child, regardless of immigration status.” ICE maintains such decisions prioritize child welfare.

These operations coincide with reports of tourism declining 40 to 50 percent in major U.S. cities, attributed by analysts to perceptions of an “authoritarian regime” under Mr. Trump’s second term. A commander identified as Dan Bovino — dubbed “commander at large” by critics — has been spotted in multiple cities, including Evansville, Illinois, where he engaged in lighthearted banter with agents, such as playing rock-paper-scissors, amid serious allegations. Evansville’s mayor confronted Mr. Bovino, accusing him of perpetrating violence, to which he responded by defending the enforcement as necessary for community safety.

Immigrant rights groups, like the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, have demanded investigations, pointing to a Dec. 18 incident in California where an ICE vehicle struck a fleeing man with its side mirror before agents subdued him. “The intent seemed to be stopping him at any cost,” said executive director Javier Hernandez.

Administration officials reject distraction claims, framing the raids as fulfillment of Mr. Trump’s campaign promises on border security. Yet, with Epstein scrutiny intensifying — Democrats vowing congressional hearings — the timing has raised eyebrows. As one anonymous White House aide put it, “When the heat’s on, you turn up the volume elsewhere.”

The broader impact on communities is profound: families torn apart, schools disrupted, and trust in law enforcement eroded. In Salisbury, North Carolina, a mother was pulled from her car after dropping off her daughter at elementary school, allegedly on a tip from an estranged father in a custody dispute. Her sister-in-law recounted the trauma: “She begged us to protect her child.”

As 2025 draws to a close, these events underscore deepening divisions over immigration and accountability. With Epstein files still incomplete, calls for full disclosure grow louder, while ICE’s aggressive posture tests the limits of federal power in a polarized nation.