Federal immigration authorities arrested a total of 235 people in Lakewood between January 20, 2025 and August 2026, according to new federal data obtained by TLS, making Lakewood one of the more active locations for Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Ocean County during President Donald Trump’s second term.

The individuals arrested originated primarily from eight countries: Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru and Türkiye.

The 235 arrests in Lakewood was matched by neighboring Toms River, which saw an equal amount of arrests. However, those two towns far exceeded those in neighboring Ocean County communities, where federal data show ICE arrested 60 people in Jackson Township and just two in Manchester Township during the same period.

The Lakewood figures are part of a broader increase in immigration enforcement activity across New Jersey since Trump took office in January 2025. More than 17,900 people were detained statewide by ICE during the first 19 months of Trump’s second term, according to federal immigration data analyzed by TLS.

The data does not indicate how many of the 235 individuals arrested in Lakewood were ultimately charged in court, convicted of crimes or deported. Federal immigration records typically categorize arrests based on the most serious known offense or immigration violation at the time of apprehension.

Lakewood, a township of more than 143,000 residents and one of New Jersey’s fastest-growing communities, has seen its immigrant population increase significantly over the past two decades.

TLS has reported on ICE operations in the Lakewood area extensively.

Last year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the launch of a new webpage, “Worst of the Worst,” which highlighted some of the worst criminals picked up in the area