ICE arrests surge 152% in Pacific Northwest during late 2025 crackdown
Immigration enforcement surged across the Pacific Northwest in late 2025. Arrests by ICE agents rose sharply in Oregon and Washington, with numbers far exceeding previous years. A targeted operation and expanded data use contributed to the increase.
In Oregon, ICE arrests climbed dramatically in the final months of 2025. Over 400 people were detained in October and November, followed by more than 300 in December. Multnomah County, home to most of Portland, saw 770 arrests in 2025—up from around 180 the year before. The spike came as part of Operation Black Rose, a focused enforcement effort launched in the autumn.
Across the wider Pacific Northwest, arrests jumped from fewer than 250 in the last quarter of 2024 to nearly 2,250 in the same period of 2025. Washington state alone recorded over 2,340 arrests in 2025, a 152% increase from 2024. King County led with 1,030 detentions, while Yakima County had the highest rate per capita—185 arrests per 100,000 residents. Most of Yakima's 477 arrests occurred in the second half of the year.
Those arrested in Washington came from more than 80 countries, with ages ranging from 3 to 71. ICE agents also relied on driver's license data to identify and detain individuals during the crackdown.
The enforcement push resulted in thousands of arrests across Oregon and Washington by the end of 2025. Yakima County recorded the highest arrest rate relative to its population, while King County saw the largest total number. The use of licence records and targeted operations played a key role in the rise.
