Federal immigration authorities continued enforcement operations across several states following the 2026 midterm elections. While President Donald Trump stated in an interview recorded Friday, November 6, that his immigration policies may have been “too tough” and expressed a desire to work with Democrats, enforcement actions were reported in California, Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Michigan, and Massachusetts. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated the day after the election that deportations would continue, including on holidays.
The reports of continued enforcement coincide with administrative changes in Washington. After the Republican party lost control of Congress in the midterms, President Trump appointed Stephen Miller as his new chief of staff. Despite the shift in legislative control, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials maintained that operational orders remained unchanged. In Miami, advocates reported that arrests occurred at supermarkets, pharmacies, gas stations, and during routine appointments at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) offices.
In Los Angeles on Saturday, November 7, masked federal agents in body armor were observed near the emergency room entrance of Adventist Health White Memorial Medical Center. Bill Essayli, a Justice Department prosecutor in Los Angeles, stated the agents were transporting a detainee for medical treatment and arrested two individuals for assaulting federal agents. DHS issued a statement stating that ICE does not target hospitals, schools, or churches. Hospital president Daniel Fontoura stated the facility does not participate in immigration enforcement and prioritizes patient safety.
The continuation of these enforcement actions affects individuals currently navigating the U.S. asylum system, including students, workers, and families. In Alabama, 19-year-old twin brothers Luis and Carlos Orta-Santoro, who are soccer players at Wallace State Community College with pending asylum applications and work permits, were detained while driving back to school. In Arizona, a married couple from Orlando, Florida, Gustavo Romanello and Agustin Baccega, were arrested at the Phoenix airport on Saturday, November 7, while traveling to a funeral. DHS stated that pending asylum applications do not confer legal status, and those who overstayed their initial legal entry remain subject to detention and hearing before an immigration judge.
For families and individuals, these actions mean that presence at public locations—such as airports, transit routes, or government offices—carries a risk of detention regardless of pending legal applications. The scale of these operations is reflected in reports from advocates like María Bilbao in Miami, who noted receiving at least one call per day regarding new detentions since the election. The detention of an 8-year-old Haitian boy in San Diego on November 4, after he was summoned to an ICE office, prompted a formal letter from San Diego Unified School District officials, who argued that such actions disrupt access to education.
The ongoing enforcement indicates that executive branch operational priorities may continue independently of shifts in Congressional leadership or presidential rhetoric. While the President suggested a willingness to negotiate with the new Democratic majority, the appointment of Stephen Miller and Secretary Mullin’s directive indicate that the process of detention and deportation remains active. The next steps for those detained involve appearances before immigration judges to determine their legal right to remain in the country, though specific court dates for the individuals named in recent reports were not disclosed.