A homeless illegal migrant entered an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building Thursday and requested to be taken into custody.
The 23-year-old Venezuelan national, whom ICE did not identify, walked into the lobby of the agency’s Detroit field office and asked to be arrested, stating he would otherwise commit crimes, according to the agency. The occurrence contrasts sharply with the thousands of illegal migrants arrested in the community since President Donald Trump returned to the White House.
“We’re grateful that this individual self-reported and turned himself over to ICE before going out and threatening public safety,” ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Detroit Field Office Director Robert Lynch stated.
The agency confirmed the Venezuelan national will remain in ICE custody pending his immigration proceedings.
Should an immigration judge order his removal, the Venezuelan man is now more likely to be returned to his home country. The Trump administration recently secured an agreement with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government to resume deportation flights.
The first two flights landed in Caracas on Monday, reportedly carrying members of the notorious Tren de Aragua crime syndicate. These deportations followed a meeting in January between Trump envoy Richard Grenell and Maduro, during which six detained Americans were released.
ICE agents also conducted an immigration raid Wednesday in the Denver metro area, targeting Tren de Aragua gang members accused of taking over apartment complexes. However, the operation fell short of expectations, with border czar Tom Homan attributing the outcome to media leaks.
Since Trump’s return to office, ICE arrests have significantly increased nationwide. Major cities such as Chicago, Denver, New York City, and Baltimore—many of which are sanctuary cities—have been primary targets for deportation officers. The administration’s executive orders have expanded resources for enforcement and granted federal agents more authority to conduct immigration arrests.
Roughly 8 million Venezuelans have fled the country under Maduro’s regime, which has been marked by inflation, economic collapse, and political repression. Many Venezuelans have illegally crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, according to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data.
The Trump administration has not only reinforced border security but also phased out parole programs that previously allowed large numbers of migrants to enter and work in the U.S. Critics argue these programs, such as the CHNV initiative, facilitated mass migration from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.
The voluntary surrender of the Venezuelan migrant in Detroit may reflect a broader shift in migrant sentiment under the Trump administration, with many expressing doubts about their chances of entering the U.S. unlawfully following Trump’s election victory.