Federal immigration agents carried out a series of enforcement operations across Gallatin County this week, with community organizations estimating that more than 100 people were detained between Monday and Thursday. The operations drew attention from local residents and prompted responses from both the Bozeman Police Department and the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.
Operations Span Multiple Days and Locations
The enforcement activity began Monday and continued through Thursday, spanning several sites around Bozeman and nearby communities. Bienvenidos, a local community organization, tracked the detentions throughout the week, recording an estimated 25 to 30 arrests on Monday and Tuesday, followed by more than 80 on Wednesday alone, with additional arrests reported Thursday.
One of the more visible incidents occurred Monday morning near Bozeman Summit School, where ICE agents pursued two men on foot with weapons drawn. The school, which serves more than 100 children in kindergarten through eighth grade across two summer sessions, sits roughly three blocks from where the foot chase unfolded. A nearby resident, Brandy Straub, described the scene as “chaotic, unprofessional, disorganized, and incredibly unsafe.”
A separate operation took place early Wednesday at Gallatin Gateway Village, where agents arrived around 5 a.m. as workers were boarding buses headed to a Yellowstone Club worksite. A witness on the scene reported approximately five arrests at that location.
Local Law Enforcement Not Coordinating With ICE
Both the Bozeman Police Department and the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office confirmed they were not coordinating with federal immigration agents during the operations. The Sheriff’s Office has separately addressed community response to the enforcement activity, with Sheriff Dan Springer issuing warnings to protesters whose actions disrupted earlier ICE operations in the county.
The lack of local law enforcement involvement leaves residents and community organizations without a direct line for information on arrests, destinations, or the scope of the federal action.
Community Organizations Raise Transparency Concerns
Advocates tracking the situation say the absence of clear communication from federal authorities has made it difficult to account for those taken into custody. Sally Moyce, who has been involved in monitoring the operations, said that “lack of transparency and accountability with ICE makes it impossible to know what they are doing, who they are taking or where they’re sending them.”
Community organizations have been the primary source of information for affected families, compiling arrest estimates and attempting to connect detainees with legal resources. Federal immigration officials have not publicly confirmed the number of individuals detained or provided details on where those arrested are being held.
Broader Context
The Gallatin County operations are part of a broader national push by Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the Trump administration, which has significantly expanded interior enforcement activity since January 2025. Montana communities, including those in Gallatin County, have seen increased federal immigration presence in recent months.
The incidents near Bozeman Summit School have drawn particular concern from parents and neighbors. With more than 100 children enrolled in the school’s summer programs, the proximity of the foot pursuit to school grounds added urgency to community calls for clearer protocols when federal operations occur near schools or other sensitive locations.
As the week’s operations conclude, community organizations say they will continue tracking detentions and connecting families with legal support. The full scope of the enforcement sweep — including how many individuals remain in federal custody and where they have been transferred — remains unclear as of Friday.
