Record Surge in ICE Arrests: Majority of Immigrants Have No Criminal History

POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — The Trump administration has achieved record highs in monthly immigration enforcement arrests this summer, with over 43,000 individuals detained in June and an additional 50,000 in July. Notably, for the first time since Trump took office, more than half of those arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had no prior criminal convictions or pending charges.

A growing number of immigrants targeted by federal law enforcement have no criminal history, as officers increasingly focus on those whose legal status has expired or been revoked by the administration. The proportion of arrests involving immigrants with past violent criminal convictions has dropped to less than 4 percent.

The administration has shifted its focus to legal immigration pathways, including asylum seekers, spouses of U.S. citizens in legal limbo, and refugees with temporary legal status whose protections have been revoked. These individuals, along with those already in local law enforcement custody, are now prime targets for arrest and removal.

Earlier this year, ICE officials informed Congress of plans to deport one million people and maintain at least 99,000 individuals in ICE detention centers daily by fiscal years 2026 and 2027. To achieve these goals, the administration has invested billions into the Department of Homeland Security, aiming to expand detention facilities and hire more officers.

As ICE moves away from targeting individuals with criminal records, the percentage of arrests at prisons and jails has decreased. Instead, a larger share of ICE arrests are now conducted “at large,” with officers tracking down and apprehending people at work, in their homes, or during traffic stops. Approximately 63 percent of all ICE arrests are performed in this manner, often with the support of state and local police through the 287(g) program.

The 287(g) program, which deputizes local police to carry out federal immigration enforcement, has seen a significant increase in arrests, particularly in states with a limited ICE presence. In Florida, at least 15,000 arrests have been made under this program, while in Wyoming and West Virginia, over 50 percent of arrests are attributed to 287(g).

The administration is also focusing on individuals with lapsed legal status or those stuck in bureaucratic hurdles, including those awaiting visa extensions or green cards. Additionally, efforts are underway to rapidly remove approximately one million people with humanitarian protections who fled disaster and violence in their home countries.

In June, the Supreme Court allowed Homeland Security to revoke Temporary Protected Status for Haiti and Syria, paving the way for the removal of 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians. Deportation flights have increased, with domestic transfer flights between ICE detention centers reaching a record high of 1,363 flights in July.

Human Rights First has expressed concern over the removal of individuals to third countries, citing violations of due process rights and the risks faced by those deported.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)