Isabelle Foland for The Des Moines Register:
In the first year of President Donald Trump’s return to office, at least 1,779 people were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in lowa, primarily through collaboration between the agency and local law enforcement, according to the Deportation Data Project.
ICE arrests in lowa increased by 272% compared with the same period in 2024, according to the project’s data, fitting into national trends of sharp increases in immigration-related arrests.
While the increase in ICE activity under Trump’s second administration started with large-scale raids and operations like those in Minneapolis and Chicago, the agency has shifted toward a “quieter” approach through collaboration with state and local law enforcement.
Sheriff Brad Kunkel to KCRG about concerns a larger jail would have on immigrants and ICE activity:
I think that is a red herring argument.
Lord Farquaad in Shrek:
Some of you may die, but it’s a sacrifice I am willing to make.