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ICE arrests 114 in SC in ‘major highway enforcement operation’ along I-26 and I-85.Several South Carolina law enforcement agencies partnered with U.S.Immigration and Customs Enforcement to conduct two “major highway enforcement operations” along Interstate 26 and Interstate 85 last month, the federal agency announced.The operations resulted in the arrest of 114 people.It’s the latest effort in South Carolina to further crackdown on immigration enforcement, which has ramped up under President Donald Trump’s second term.From May 12 to May 14, ICE worked together with the State Law Enforcement Division, the State Transit Police, and the Duncan Police Department on “Operation Safe Drive” and “Operation Rubber Duck,” targeting commercial vehicles like passenger buses long-haul truck drivers.According to ICE spokesperson Lindsay Williams, those arrests were both “criminal and administrative” in nature, but a breakdown on those exact charges was not immediately available.A press release from ICE said the operations resulted in “significant seizures of cocaine and cash,” including 10 kilograms of cocaine, which has an estimated value of $200,000.Williams clarified those 10 kilograms were seized from one person.The Duncan Police Department pulled over a commercial bus, conducted a search, and found the drugs in a passenger’s bag, Williams said.In total, the operation resulted in 145 stops and 77 vehicle inspections, removing 22 drivers and vehicles from service.SLED and local police departments work together with ICE through a 287(g) agreement, with that cooperation increasing across the state since Trump re-entered office in 2025.As of June 3, 44 law enforcement agencies across South Carolina have entered into agreements with ICE.Some want the state’s collaboration with ICE to expand even more.Earlier this year, a group of Republican state lawmakers advanced legislation that would require all local governments with jails to enter agreements with ICE.The bill passed the House and made its way to the Senate, where it was sent to the Judiciary Committee on April 7.SLED signed the agreement with ICE in March 2025, granting some agents the authority to enforce federal immigration laws.Since then, the agency has doubled that roster — as of Feb.1, 82 agents have been granted those powers.Separately, the state agency established its own Immigration Enforcement Unit in 2023.Statistics provided by SLED show that it’s increasing both immigration-related arrests and “assists” to other law enforcement partners — both local and federal.In 2025, the unit assisted in 1,015 different immigration operations — a 261 percent increase from the year it was established.That assistance depends on the request, said a SLED spokesperson, explaining it could include translation, record checks, coordination of joint investigations or responding to a scene.In 2025, ICE spokesperson Lindsay Williams said in an interview with The Post and Courier that SLED was assisting the federal agency “day in and day out,” especially in targeted operations.