West Virginia’s Massive Immigration Sweep – 650 arrests!

Border patrol officers investigating people near a bus.

West Virginia just proved what happens when states actually cooperate with federal immigration enforcement—over 650 illegal aliens arrested in just 15 days without a single protest or riot disrupting the operation.

Story Highlights

ICE arrested more than 650 illegal aliens during a two-week operation across West Virginia with support from 14 state and local law enforcement partners
Operation Country Roads targeted public safety threats, including a convicted child endangerer and previously deported individuals operating unsafe commercial vehicles
West Virginia’s 287(g) agreement and Governor Morrisey’s executive order enabled seamless cooperation, contrasting sharply with riots plaguing enforcement efforts in blue states
State Police assisted in 250 arrests since September 2025 without a single legal error, demonstrating professional execution of immigration law

Federal-State Partnership Delivers Results

ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations division coordinated with West Virginia State Police, National Guard units, county sheriff’s offices, and local police departments to execute Operation Country Roads from January 5-19, 2026. The statewide sweep deployed teams to Charleston, Martinsburg, Beckley, Moorefield, Morgantown, and Huntington. Acting Director Michael Rose emphasized that strong partnerships exponentially enhance public safety capacity. This collaborative model stands in stark contrast to sanctuary jurisdictions that obstruct federal law enforcement and endanger communities by shielding criminal aliens from removal.

Criminals Removed from American Communities

Among those arrested were serious offenders who exploited porous borders and lax enforcement under the previous administration. On January 11, ICE apprehended Ling Yan, also known as Yang Ning, a Chinese national with convictions for endangering children in Ohio and a final order of removal. Days earlier, agents arrested Sagar Singh, an Indian national operating an unsafe commercial vehicle who had already been ordered deported. Eight individuals faced immigration charges in Nitro on January 16. These cases demonstrate the operation prioritized removing threats to public safety and national security, not targeting law-abiding community members as critics falsely claim.

Weird how there were no anti-ICE riots, no whistles, no church invasions.

"ICE Arrests Over 650 in West Virginia During 15-Day Immigration Surge" https://t.co/ndREV5K8qU

— Phineas Fahrquar (@irishspy) February 2, 2026

287(g) Program Enables Professional Enforcement

The operation’s success stems from West Virginia’s embrace of the 287(g) program, which authorizes state and local officers to perform immigration enforcement functions. Governor Patrick Morrisey signed a Memorandum of Agreement with ICE in August 2025 and issued an executive order directing statewide cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Colonel Jim Mitchell of the West Virginia State Police reported that troopers assisted in 250 arrests since September 2025 without a single error, underscoring the professionalism and legal precision of properly trained officers. This training extended to military personnel and corrections officers, building sustainable enforcement capacity.

Stark Contrast with Blue State Chaos

While West Virginia’s operation proceeded without incident, ICE enforcement in Democrat-controlled jurisdictions has faced violent protests, church invasions, and coordinated obstruction efforts. Jefferson County Sheriff Tom Hansen praised ICE agents as high-caliber professionals, a sentiment echoed by U.S. Attorney Moore Capito who emphasized delivering on promises to uphold the rule of law. The absence of protests during the 15-day operation reflects West Virginia’s commitment to constitutional law enforcement over the performative resistance seen elsewhere. This operational environment allowed agents to focus entirely on mission objectives rather than managing mob interference, resulting in efficient removal of over 650 immigration violators who had no legal right to remain in the United States.

Long-Term Impact on Border Security

The operation removed immediate public safety threats while establishing a precedent for sustained immigration enforcement. Beyond arresting criminals like child abusers and previously deported offenders, the sweep addressed commercial vehicle safety by removing unqualified drivers operating illegally. The 287(g) framework now provides West Virginia with ongoing capacity to identify and detain removable aliens during routine law enforcement activities. This represents a fundamental shift from the catch-and-release policies that characterized the Biden administration’s border collapse. States that prioritize cooperation with federal authorities over virtue-signaling resistance can replicate this model to restore immigration law integrity in their communities.