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Polk County Jail — ICE detention hub, Operation ICE Wall staging, multiple lawsuits

Polk County, IA FIPS 19153
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Operator: Polk County Sheriff

Summary

Polk County Jail in Des Moines is a primary holding location for ICE detainees in central Iowa, particularly those arrested through Operation ICE Wall (the Iowa State Patrol-ICE weigh station program). ICE detainee numbers increased 47% from FY2024 to FY2025, and multiple federal lawsuits have been filed by detainees challenging illegal detention.

Key Facts

  • ICE detainee trend:
    • FY2024: avg 19/month
    • FY2025: avg 28/month (47% increase)
  • Operation ICE Wall: State troopers on I-80 pull over truckers for weigh station violations, direct them back where ICE officers arrest and detain them; many end up in Polk County Jail
  • Heatmap score: 20 — driven by IGSA (2)

Notable Cases / Litigation

  • Ulises Ramirez Cruz: Lived in Iowa 5 years; ICE agents waited outside his house Nov. 7, 2025, pulled him over; sued Polk County and ICE over detention and denial of bond hearing
  • Amir Rahimi: Iranian national, 35 years in US, married to US citizen for 33 years; detained at routine ICE appointment July 22, 2025
  • Suraj Vasal: Indian asylum seeker, truck driver; pulled over by State Patrol on I-80 Feb. 11, 2026 for bypassing weigh station; transferred to Polk County Jail
  • Judge ruling: ICE used a “legal fiction” to illegally detain a man in Iowa jail (Jan. 2026)

Why It Matters

Polk County is the staging ground for Operation ICE Wall, an unprecedented state-federal collaboration that converts routine traffic infractions (weigh station bypass — no jail penalty) into pretexts for immigration arrests. The cases show ICE targeting long-term residents, asylum seekers, and people with legal status at routine appointments.

Sources

Edit Report issue County profile
Last updated: Apr 13, 2026