Agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement are apparently sweeping Indianapolis.
Local volunteer watchdog organizations such as Indy Rapid Response have reported a surge in sightings of ICE agents and people being detained around the city since Aug. 31, 2026.
As of 8 a.m. on of Sept. 2, Indy Rapid Response has reported ICE activity on the city's north side, near Speedway and the International Marketplace neighborhood. Indy Rapid Response also reported sightings in Lawrence, near Beech Grove and along 38th Street from the far east side to I-465 on the west side.
Videos posted on social media show agents in green vests with "POLICE" and "ICE" on the back pulling over pickup trucks and service vans. Other posts show detainees being escorted out of apartment complexes on the northwest side of Indianapolis. The detainees are placed in unmarked cars, some with flashing red and blue lights. Some agents wear masks pulled over their noses.
At least one business owner has closed her restaurants because of the surge.
Sulamy Galeas, who is listed as the owner of Nuestra Honduras Restaurante y Taqueria at 4024 S. Keystone Ave. in the secretary of state's business directory, posted on Facebook late Tuesday morning that she saw men exit a truck behind the restaurant and detain at least one person.
"Do not approach between Hanna and Keystone [avenues], they left that truck behind the restaurant," read the post, translated from Spanish. "Be careful, my friends."
Early Sept. 2, Galeas posted on Facebook that both Nuestra Honduras Restaurante y Taqueria and her other restaurant, Los Cipotes Restaurante at 8624 Pendleton Pike, were closed for the safety of her staff and patrons.
Attempts to reach Galeas and the restaurants for comment were unsuccessful.
When asked if ICE was carrying out a targeted sweep in Indianapolis and for the number of arrests made in Indiana since Aug. 31, an unidentified spokesperson for ICE Public Affairs Midwest didn't outright confirm an operation.
Instead, the spokesperson said, "agents uphold our nation's immigration laws in all 50 states, seven days a week, 24 hours a day" and shared photos of five people they deemed the "worst of the worst" arrested in Indiana. Each of those people were booked into Marion County Jail at some point, but not since 2025, according to online jail records. ICE has not directly responded to questions seeking clarity.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department confirmed it is not involved in any immigration and enforcement operations. IMPD leaders have repeatedly said the department does not have the authority to participate in ICE sweeps.
The Lawrence Police Department did not immediately respond to questions about working with ICE agents or if they were notified of any federal immigration operations.
Marion County Sheriff's Office has an agreement with the federal government to house ICE detainees for up to 48 hours. The sheriff's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the number of detainees currently held and if the number increased in the past week.
Contact IndyStar breaking news reporter Aubrey Wright at [email protected].
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Reports of ICE activity surge across Indianapolis