U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued several statements on December 20, 2025, criticizing sanctuary policies and defending its enforcement actions in various U.S. cities.
In a post published at 21:11 UTC, ICE stated, "Sanctuary policies are deadly. They’re costing American lives.
Just a day after Fairfax County officials REFUSED to honor our detainer, Marvin Morales-Ortez murdered a Virginian.
ICE will fight every day to protect American citizens from criminal illegal aliens — even when https://t.co/wYhOzkrTb2".
Later that evening at 22:54 UTC, ICE addressed opposition to its operations in Columbus, Ohio. The agency wrote, "Why are you against ICE enforcing federal immigration laws in your city and making Columbus SAFE for all Ohioans? https://t.co/FHeC2s1p8P".
In a follow-up post at the same time, ICE highlighted specific crimes associated with individuals they have targeted for removal. The agency posted, "SEX OFFENDERS, DRUG TRAFFICKERS, RAPISTS: the WORST of the worst are being taken off Columbus streets.
@ICEgov is committed to the mission of Defending the Homeland — why aren't you?
Sanctuary policies refer to local or state measures that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities regarding detention or notification about individuals’ immigration status. These policies have been subject to ongoing debate between local jurisdictions and federal agencies like ICE over their impact on public safety and community trust.
