Operation Cross Check

Operation Cross Check is an ongoing law enforcement operation led by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to identify, arrest, and deport illegal immigrants with criminal records. Since its launch in 2011, the operation has resulted in thousands of arrests and deportations across the United States.^[1][2]

Operation Cross Check
Enforcement and Removal Operations officers apprehending a criminal target in northern Virginia during an Operation Cross Check
Operation name	Operation Cross Check
Operation codename	Cross Check
Type	Law enforcement operation
Scope	National
Roster
Planned by	U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Initiated by	Obama administration
Executed by	U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Local law enforcement agencies
Mission
Target	Illegal immigrants with criminal convictions
Objective	To identify, arrest, and deport illegal immigrants with criminal records
Method	Coordinated raids
Timeline
Date begin	2011
Duration	ongoing
Results
Suspects	Over 100,000 identified
Arrests	Over 15,000 arrested in total
Convictions	Large, mostly resulting in deportation

Background

The roots of Operation Cross Check lie in the broader strategy of ICE's enforcement priorities, which evolved significantly during the late 2000s.^[3] By 2011, the Obama administration had intensified efforts to deport illegal immigrants with serious criminal records, focusing on those who posed a potential threat to national security and public safety.^[4] The operation built on the Secure Communities program, which facilitated data sharing between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities to identify criminal aliens.^[5][6]

Operation

Operation Cross Check involves large-scale raids across multiple states, often coordinated to occur over a few days. These operations are highly organized, with ICE officers working closely with state and local law enforcement agencies. The operations target individuals with prior criminal convictions, especially those who have re-entered the U.S. illegally after being deported.^[7]

In 2011, 2,900 Criminal Aliens were arrested by ICE.^[8][9] One of the largest phases took place in March 2012, resulting in over 3,100 arrests. This operation targeted individuals involved in violent crimes, drug trafficking, and other serious offenses. Another significant operation in 2017 focused on gang members and those with ties to organized crime.^[10][11][12]

Impact and controversy

Operation Cross Check has been both supported and criticized. Supporters argue that it effectively removes dangerous individuals from communities, reducing crime rates and enhancing public safety.^[13] However, the operation has also sparked controversy, with critics accusing it of targeting immigrants indiscriminately and contributing to racial profiling.^[14] Critics also note that the operation has sown fear in immigrant communities especially ones with families,^[15][16] leading to lower reporting of crimes by undocumented individuals.^[17][18]

ICE continues to defend the operation, emphasizing that the majority of those arrested have significant criminal records and are not merely being targeted for minor immigration violations.^[19] Despite the controversy, Operation Cross Check remains a key component of ICE's broader enforcement strategy under different administrations.