ICE's 'Soft Feet' Strategy: Record Arrests Continue as Tactics Shift to Covert Raids

Key points

• ICE arrested 50,925 people in August 2026, a new record, following 50,208 in July and 44,000 in June, according to DHS data cited by Commonweal Magazine.
• After public backlash over the January 'Operation Metro Surge' in Minneapolis, which resulted in two deaths, the Trump administration adopted a 'soft feet' strategy to lower media profile.
• Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin stated his goal was to keep ICE out of the lead story within six months, a target the agency has reportedly met.
• The Guardian reports that ICE now conducts rapid raids, such as a 90-second operation in Memphis, Tennessee, on August 30, replacing armored vehicle patrols.
• Violence persists under the new model: ICE agents killed individuals in Houston and Biddeford, Maine, in July, and shot a delivery driver in Austin in August.
• The administration has expanded enforcement scope by terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 13 countries, including Haiti and Myanmar, affecting hundreds of thousands of residents.

Background

This shift follows a period of intense public scrutiny and legal challenges, including a proposed $103,265 H-1B fee and record arrest tallies in August 2025. The current 'invisibilized' approach contrasts with the earlier 'siege' tactics that drew widespread condemnation after the Minneapolis incidents.

How outlets are covering it

The Guardian and Commonweal Magazine agree that ICE has successfully reduced its media visibility but disagree on the moral implications. The Guardian frames the change as a tactical shift to 'invisibilized' enforcement, noting that while the agency is quieter, it remains aggressive. Commonweal argues the new methods are 'every bit as cruel,' highlighting specific shootings and the expansion of TPS terminations. USA Today focuses on the structural expansion of detention capacity and contractor involvement. Crisis Magazine offers a contrasting view, arguing that the Church hierarchy ignores the 'common good' concerns of Catholic laity who support stricter immigration controls, framing the issue as a conflict between 'liberation theology' and traditional Catholic social teaching.

Why it matters

The shift to covert operations makes it harder for the public and media to monitor enforcement activities, potentially allowing for increased violations of rights without immediate accountability. The record arrest numbers indicate that the administration's enforcement goals are being met despite the change in tactics, raising questions about the long-term impact on immigrant communities and civil liberties.

What to watch

ICE is expected to continue its 'soft feet' strategy, focusing on targeted, rapid arrests rather than large-scale public operations. The administration may further expand enforcement by terminating TPS for additional countries. Legal challenges and public protests may continue as specific incidents of violence or abuse are reported, potentially drawing renewed media attention.