Alaska has experienced a dramatic escalation of ICE enforcement operations since January 2025. The state went from 2 ICE officers to approximately 12, producing an almost 500% increase in arrests (at least 70 in 2025, per ACLU of Alaska, vs. ~13 DOC holds in all of 2024). By mid-January 2026, 99 people had been held in Alaska jail facilities on behalf of ICE.

Key Statistics

• 2024: 13 DOC holds for ICE; 24 ICE arrests total; 10 deported
• 2025 (through June 26): 33 arrested, 23 deported or scheduled
• 2025 (full year): 101 ICE-related detentions; ACLU tracked at least 70 arrests (500% increase)
• 2026 (through April 1): 28 immigrants detained
• ICE staffing: Grew from 2 officers to ~12
• Reimbursement rate: $223.70/detainee/day to Alaska DOC

Enforcement Profile

ICE in Alaska has largely pursued people with past criminal issues or already in immigration proceedings. The agency identifies targets through:

• Pending USCIS applications
• Background checks
• I-9 investigations
• Interactions with local/state law enforcement

Alaska has NOT seen the aggressive sidewalk sweeps documented in Lower 48 cities (as of early 2026).

Demographics of Detainees

Of those held in Alaska jails for ICE: 17 self-reported as from Mexico, 6 each from Guatemala and Peru, plus detainees from Fiji, Tonga, Mauritania, India, Philippines, and Slovenia, among others.

Out-of-State Transfers INTO Alaska

On June 8, 2025, ICE flew 42 men arrested outside Alaska into the Anchorage Correctional Complex to relieve overcrowding at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, WA. The men came from 22 countries. Most were held approximately one month before being transferred back out of state.

State Cooperation

• Alaska State Troopers: Do NOT participate in ICE enforcement and do not coordinate with ICE for immigration purposes (per Deputy Commissioner Leon Morgan, Feb 2026 testimony)
• Governor Dunleavy: Approved National Guard assistance to ICE in Anchorage (Dec 2, 2025) — 5 service members providing “administrative and logistical” support for up to one year
• Alaska DOC: Holds ICE detainees under existing contract with U.S. Marshals Service for federal detainees

No 287(g) Agreements

Despite the heatmap flagging 287(g) signals, no Alaska law enforcement agencies appear to have entered formal 287(g) agreements with ICE as of April 2026. The heatmap scores likely reflect the underlying contract/IGSA infrastructure rather than 287(g) MOAs.

Legislative Oversight

• June 20, 2025: House Judiciary Committee fact-finding hearing on ICE detention in state prisons (following 42-person transfer)
• February 23, 2026: House Judiciary Committee hearing on Soldotna family arrest and detention of minors
• ICE and DHS declined to testify at the Feb 2026 hearing

Key Cases

Soldotna Family (Feb 17, 2026)

ICE arrested Sonia Espinoza Arriaga and her three children (ages 18, 16, 5) at their home in Soldotna (Kenai Peninsula Borough). The mother and two minors were in Tijuana within 36 hours. The 18-year-old was transferred to Tacoma ICE custody. Arriaga was married to a U.S. citizen and in active asylum proceedings. First known detention of children by ICE in Alaska.

Anchorage Boy Deportation Case (April 2026)

An Anchorage boy’s deportation hinges on proving a U.S. citizen is his father — case highlights due process challenges in Alaska’s remote enforcement environment.

Conditions Concerns

Attorneys testified (June 2025 hearing) that ICE detainees at Anchorage Correctional Complex faced:

• Lengthy lockdowns
• Overuse of handcuffs
• Overcrowding (3 to a cell)
• Limited/denied access to family and attorney calls
• Regular strip-searches after attorney visits
• Use of force by DOC staff
• Communication barriers (language access)

ACLU of Alaska demanded state not hold ICE detainees more than 72 hours without improved conditions.

Alaska Native Corporations as Detention Contractors

Two Alaska Native corporations are major ICE detention contractors nationally (see separate entry):

• NANA/Akima: ~$300M in ICE contracts (2025), operates Krome (Miami), Guantanamo Bay migrant detention
• Bering Straits Native Corporation: Multiple ICE contracts since 2015, shareholder divestment campaign (Jan 2026)

Sources

• ADN: Alaska sees surge of ICE detentions (Jan 19, 2026)
• Alaska Beacon: 42 men flown in from out of state (Jun 11, 2025)
• Alaska Beacon: Lawmakers probe state detention policies (Feb 25, 2026)
• Alaska’s News Source: ICE doubles arrest rate (Aug 8, 2025)
• Alaska Beacon: Dunleavy approves National Guard ICE assistance (Dec 2, 2025)
• Alaska Public: Advocates step up (Oct 10, 2025)
• ADN: Rapid deportation case signals change (Feb 20, 2026)