In Los Angeles, Immigration and Customs Enforcement says agents arrested about 160 people from a dozen countries.
This was part of a series of raids that took place during a five-day operation.
ICE says nearly all have a criminal history, including felony convictions for serious offenses.
Immigration officials acknowledged at least five would not have been deported under President Obama's standards.
Similar raids took place in Atlanta, with activists reporting others in Upstate New York, Chicago, Texas and North Carolina.