Vance Warns of Massive ICE Crackdown as 10,000 New Agents Prepare for Door-to-Door Raids
The Trump administration is making it clear that its aggressive immigration crackdown is far from over. In fact, according to Vice President JD Vance, the toughest phase may still be ahead.
Speaking during a televised interview on January 7, Vance said Americans should prepare for a much stronger and broader immigration enforcement effort in the coming months. He described a plan that includes thousands of new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, expanded detention capacity, and door-to-door operations aimed at removing people living in the country illegally.
The comments come as the administration pushes forward with what it calls the largest deportation campaign in U.S. history, a centerpiece of President Donald Trump’s second-term agenda.
A Rapid Expansion of ICE
Federal officials say ICE has already grown significantly. Just a year ago, the agency employed about 10,000 agents and investigators. Today, that number is closer to 22,000, and officials say another 10,000 agents are expected to be added soon.
According to Vance, these new hires are a key reason enforcement efforts are expected to ramp up sharply in 2026.
“We’re going to see deportation numbers rise,” Vance said, explaining that the administration has already removed or pressured about 2.5 million people to leave the country. He emphasized that many of these removals happened quietly, without what he called “big marquee operations.”
Now, he says, the administration is ready to take things further.
Door-to-Door Enforcement
One of the most controversial aspects of the plan is the idea of ICE agents conducting door-to-door enforcement in communities across the country. Vance said agents will work to ensure that people without legal status leave the U.S. and reapply through legal channels if they wish to return.
Federal officials say the goal is nationwide enforcement, not just activity along the southern border. This approach mirrors ideas outlined in Project 2025, a conservative policy blueprint that calls for immigration enforcement “anywhere” in the United States.
Supporters argue this strategy restores the rule of law. Critics say it risks frightening communities and violating civil liberties.
Private Contractors and Data Collection
Behind the scenes, the government is also turning to private contractors to support enforcement. In late 2025, federal officials revealed plans to hire thousands of private “skip tracers.” These contractors are expected to verify the home and work locations of up to 1.5 million people.
According to contracting data, these workers may collect photos of homes and workplaces, utility bills, employment records, and court documents. They are not required to explain why they are gathering this information.
Supporters say this allows ICE to operate more efficiently. Privacy advocates warn it creates a surveillance system with little transparency or oversight.
Massive Detention Expansion
Another major piece of the plan involves detention capacity. Immigration officials are exploring the purchase of large warehouse facilities similar to those used by major online retailers to convert them into detention and processing centers.
Officials say this could allow ICE to bypass local zoning restrictions, particularly in cities and states that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
In addition, a private company is currently building a temporary 5,000-bed detention center at Fort Bliss in Texas under a $232 million Defense Department contract. The administration says it wants to add at least 60,000 detention beds nationwide, on top of the roughly 41,000 beds available last year.
Funding Behind the Push
Much of this expansion is funded by a sweeping immigration and border security bill signed into law last July. The legislation provides $170 billion to be spent over roughly four years on border security, detention, and enforcement.
The funding includes pay and benefits for thousands of new ICE and Border Patrol agents, though officials have not clarified whether those numbers include agents already hired.
Administration officials say this financial backing allows them to move faster and more aggressively than in the past.
Political Divide Grows Sharper
The immigration push has deepened political divisions across the country. Republican leaders largely support the administration’s approach, framing it as necessary for public safety and national security.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem praised ICE agents in a social media post, calling their work essential to protecting the country.
Democrats and civil rights groups, however, argue the tactics are excessive and dangerous. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and other critics have compared ICE’s methods to authoritarian policing, warning that agents are undermining basic rights and spreading fear.
Public opinion appears split. A recent survey found that more than half of Americans believe the administration is doing too much when it comes to deportations. The divide is especially stark along party lines, with most Democrats opposing the approach and most Republicans supporting it.
Concerns About Who Is Being Detained
One of the most contentious issues is whether enforcement is truly focused on dangerous criminals. Trump has repeatedly said he would target “the worst of the worst.”
But independent analysis of ICE data suggests otherwise. As of November, nearly three-quarters of people held in immigration detention reportedly had no criminal convictions.
This gap between rhetoric and reality has fueled criticism from lawmakers and advocacy groups.
Following a deadly confrontation involving an ICE agent in Minneapolis, Democratic leaders called for congressional hearings into enforcement tactics and accountability.
What Comes Next
Despite the criticism, the administration shows no signs of slowing down. Officials insist that expanded enforcement is necessary to restore order to the immigration system and discourage illegal entry.
Vice President Vance made it clear that what Americans have seen so far is only the beginning.
Whether the strategy delivers the results the administration promises or deepens political and social tensions will likely define the next phase of America’s immigration debate.
What is certain is that immigration enforcement is now entering one of its most aggressive chapters in modern U.S. history.
