Federal agents and local police just wrapped up a high-intensity, two-week sweep across West Virginia, resulting in the arrest of more than 650 people living in the country illegally. Running from January 5 to January 19, the operation hit major hubs like Charleston, Morgantown, and Huntington.
This wasn’t a solo mission for ICE Philadelphia; they leaned heavily on the 287(g) program, which essentially deputizes local law enforcement to help identify and process non-citizens who have broken the law.
The arrests weren’t just about paperwork or expired visas. Officials noted that the sweep targeted individuals deemed a risk to public safety, including several with dark criminal pasts.
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One high-profile arrest involved Sagar Singh, an Indian national caught during a commercial vehicle sting after he skipped a mandatory brake check in an unsafe truck. Singh already had a prior deportation order against him.
Another notable case was Ling Yan, a Chinese national previously convicted of child endangerment in Ohio. The roundup also pulled in convicted sex offenders and drug traffickers, according to agency reports.
Local leaders are calling the mission a win for community safety. Jefferson County Sheriff Tom Hansen praised the “professionalism” of the federal agents, while Governor Patrick Morrisey linked the success to a shift in federal border enforcement priorities.
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He argued that the collaboration is a necessary fix for years of lax policies. While the sheer scale of 650 arrests in just fourteen days is significant, ICE officials say this is part of an ongoing strategy to use local police as a “force multiplier.”
For now, the surge teams have finished their rounds, but the partnerships built during this January blitz are expected to stay in place, making these types of statewide sweeps the new normal for West Virginia.
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