ICE Weapons Spending Surges 700% in 2025, Reaching Over $71 Million

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has dramatically increased its weapons spending in 2025, with an analysis by Judd Legum's Popular Information revealing a 700% surge compared to the previous year. Federal government contracting data shows ICE's expenditure on "small arms, ordnance, and ordnance accessories manufacturing" reached over $71.5 million between January 20 and October 18, 2025. This significant increase coincides with a reported rise in violent incidents involving ICE officers and an intensified immigration crackdown.

The analysis, based on records from the Federal Procurement Data System, highlights a substantial jump from approximately $9.7 million spent during the same period in 2024. Purchases include a wide array of weaponry such as guns, armor, chemical weapons, and even "guided missile warheads and explosive components." Notably, a single $9,098,590 purchase was made from Geissele Automatics for semi-automatic and automatic rifles in late September 2025.

This current spending level far exceeds previous administrations, including President Biden's tenure and even former President Trump's first term. During Trump's initial four years, average ICE spending on small arms was around $8.4 million annually, with 2019 seeing approximately $5.7 million in expenditures. The data suggests a distinct shift towards a more heavily armed enforcement approach within ICE.

The increase in weaponry has been paralleled by a series of violent encounters involving ICE agents across the country. Incidents reported by Popular Information include a pastor in Illinois being shot with a pepper ball, an officer dropping a gun and pointing it at bystanders during an arrest, and a CBS News Chicago reporter's vehicle being engulfed by chemical agents. Additionally, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran was hospitalized after being tackled by agents in Portland, and a worker died during a California cannabis farm raid.

Civil liberties advocates have voiced strong concerns regarding these developments. Ed Yohnka of ACLU Illinois stated, > "What we’re seeing is a general escalation of violence and the use of excessive force by ICE officers." The ACLU has initiated a lawsuit on behalf of protesters, alleging that ICE's tactics, including the "dangerous and indiscriminate use of near-lethal weapons such as tear gas, rubber bullets, pepper-balls, flash grenades," violate constitutional rights.