ICE Arrests 650 in West Virginia Sweep; Operation Highlights 287(g) Partnerships and Public Safety Focus
ICE’s ‘Operation Country Roads’ ran Jan. 5–19, 2026, across West Virginia, resulting in 650 arrests during a coordinated two-week surge as federal, state and local partners—using the 287(g) program—sought noncitizens alleged to pose public-safety or national-security risks.
- Two-week surge: Operation Country Roads led to 650 arrests statewide, coordinated across multiple cities and agencies.
- 287(g) central: More than 550 arrests involved West Virginia agencies operating under the 287(g) program.
- Criminal cases: Arrests included individuals with prior convictions and federal immigration charges tied to search warrants executed in Nitro.
- Mixed responses: State leaders praised public-safety results while civil-rights groups and courts raised legal and constitutional concerns.
Operation details and agency roles
ICE described Operation Country Roads as a coordinated surge from Jan. 5–19, 2026, that arrested more than 650 people statewide. The initiative included 14 federal, state and local partners and focused on locating noncitizens who had entered illegally or who had criminal histories. See the Department of Justice press release for the official account and partner list.
Teams worked in multiple cities, including Charleston, Martinsburg, Beckley, Moorefield, Morgantown and Huntington, coordinating with local agencies to identify and process subjects. Reporting on those deployments is available from WJLA.
“This operation demonstrates how strong partnerships between ICE and West Virginia law enforcement agencies enhance public safety and the integrity of our immigration system,” ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Philadelphia acting Field Office Director Michael Rose said. (source)
Scope of 287(g) participation
West Virginia has made the 287(g) program central to local immigration enforcement, with at least 25 entities participating. State participants include the West Virginia State Police, the National Guard and the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation; local participants include numerous county sheriff’s offices and municipal police departments. The Justice Department summarizes the program participation and partners in its press release, while local coverage from WCHS/FOX details agency involvement.
Federal officials noted that West Virginia led the nation in daily 287(g) arrests on at least four days during the operation; U.S. Attorney Moore Capito publicly praised the partners’ performance and enforcement of immigration laws.
Arrests, charges and notable cases
ICE and local authorities said the arrested population included those alleged to pose threats to public safety and national security, plus persons with prior criminal convictions. Reporting identified individual cases such as Sagar Singh, an Indian national alleged to be operating an unsafe tractor trailer, and Ling Yan (aka Yang Ning), a Chinese national with prior Ohio convictions and a final removal order. See coverage by WV MetroNews and WJLA for details.
The Southern District of West Virginia reported that eight individuals face federal immigration charges connected to search warrants executed at a Nitro business and a residence on Jan. 16, 2026; see the Justice Department release and related local reporting from WCHS/FOX.
State leadership and policy context
Governor Patrick Morrisey signed a 287(g) Memorandum of Agreement in August 2025 and issued an executive order directing state cooperation with ICE after taking office. State leaders publicly praised the operation for removing alleged dangerous criminals from communities; local reporting documents the statements and policy steps taken by the governor and state officials (WJLA, WV MetroNews).
Col. Jim Mitchell, West Virginia State Police Superintendent, said state agencies assisted in roughly 250 ICE arrests since September 2025 with no recorded errors and confirmed targets were in violation of immigration law (source).
Civil liberties concerns and legal pushback
Not all observers supported the raids. Mountain State Spotlight raised constitutional questions and reported that some arrested immigrants have filed lawsuits claiming eligibility for relief, pending citizenship applications, or claims of fleeing persecution. That coverage confirmed the 650-arrest total while urging court review of selected cases (Mountain State Spotlight).
Civil-rights groups argue aggressive sweeps can erode community trust in policing; state officials counter that training and oversight through 287(g) limit abuses and ensure lawful process (DOJ).
Protests and public reaction
ICE and local reporting noted that no protests occurred during the two-week operation itself. Some outlets reported planned anti-ICE demonstrations for a separate later Saturday in Huntington and Putnam County; these were not during the operation dates (WV MetroNews, WCHS/FOX).
Investigative coverage shows a mix of praise and concern: state leaders emphasized law-and-order benefits and credited 287(g) partnerships for rapid results, while civil-liberties advocates warned that some detained individuals may have legitimate claims to remain (analysis).
Implications for the United States
Public safety and enforcement: The West Virginia operation demonstrates how federal and local partnerships can produce rapid enforcement results; conservative audiences may view the arrests as evidence that 287(g) agreements help identify and remove noncitizens with criminal histories or final removal orders (DOJ).
State-federal cooperation: West Virginia’s actions show how state policies and executive orders can expand interior enforcement. Other states could adopt similar memoranda if political leadership and law enforcement support it (WJLA).
Legal and civil-liberties pressures: Lawsuits and watchdog skepticism highlight likely court challenges elsewhere if similar sweeps expand; courts may be asked to balance enforcement goals with constitutional protections (Mountain State Spotlight).
Community trust: Expanding local immigration authority can affect immigrant communities’ willingness to report crime; jurisdictions must weigh enforcement gains against potential declines in community trust.
Source documents and reports
- Department of Justice press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of West Virginia
- WJLA reporting on ICE operations and arrests in West Virginia
- WCHS/FOX reporting on local agency involvement
- WV MetroNews summary of the operation and arrests
- Mountain State Spotlight critique and legal concerns
Reporting notes
This article draws on official Justice Department releases, local and national news reporting, and investigative coverage. Source links above are provided for verification and further review. All original facts, details and URLs from source documents are preserved in this summary.
