Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has dramatically increased its weapons spending this year, surpassing $71.5 million on small arms, ammunition, and related equipment between January 20 and October 18 — a 636% jump compared with the same period in 2024, according to Popular Information’s analysis of federal procurement data.
The agency’s purchases include rifles, body armor, and chemical weapons like pepper-ball projectiles, which have been deployed during protests in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland. A September 29 bulk order of over $9 million in firearms nearly equaled ICE’s entire small-arms spending from the first ten months of 2024.
ICE’s expansion follows President Donald Trump’s September executive order labeling “Antifa” a domestic terrorist organization, prompting federal agencies to redirect resources toward monitoring protest activity. Civil liberties advocates, including the ACLU, accuse ICE agents of excessive force and lack of proper training.
A federal judge in Chicago has since ordered ICE officers to wear body cameras when engaging protesters. Despite growing scrutiny, ICE’s budget, staff, and surveillance capacity continue to expand sharply under Trump’s second term.
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