ICE Launches Interior Checkpoints Far From Border: D.C., L.A., Chicago; Florida Turns Weigh Stations Into Immigration Stops

The Trump administration has expanded immigration checkpoints and traffic stops beyond traditional border areas, deploying ICE and other federal agents in cities including Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Chicago and Cedar Rapids. Checkpoints—some run by ICE or in cooperation with local police—have led to detentions and heightened fear among immigrant communities and prompted protests and community monitoring. State-level actions, such as Florida converting weigh stations to immigration checkpoints, and a recent Supreme Court ruling have further enabled enforcement. Advocates warn of racial profiling as communities vow to keep documenting and resisting the operations.