ICE Arrests 75,000 Individuals Without Criminal Records in Nine Months: Data Presents Contrast with Administration’s Statements

Nearly 75,000 immigrants with no criminal history have been arrested by ICE since the start of Donald Trump’s second term. This is according to new data from the University of California at Berkeley.

This substantial figure, covering the period from January 20 to October 15, accounts for more than one-third of the approximately 222,000 arrests made during the administration’s first nine months in office.

The figures, obtained through legal action initiated by the Deportation Data Project, differ from statements made by the White House, which has indicated an emphasis on apprehending individuals with criminal records.

Ariel Ruiz Soto, senior analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, noted: “This does not align with what the administration has stated about focusing on individuals with criminal convictions,” he told NBC News.

According to Soto, the gap between public statements and enforcement practices suggests a broader immigration enforcement approach than publicly described.

The same documents indicate that ICE is arresting approximately 824 individuals per day, below an unofficial target of 3,000 daily apprehensions referenced by several officials.

The administration has not published detailed arrest data since the beginning of Trump’s second term, reducing public access to information about enforcement practices.

Border Patrol shows similar patterns

The published data do not include arrests made by the Border Patrol, whose authority has increased since 2025. Analyses suggest similar patterns may be occurring.

According to internal documents obtained by CBS News, during a recent operation in Charlotte, North Carolina, fewer than one-third of those arrested had criminal records.

Detention figures confirm this pattern. According to the TRAC Immigration database, by mid-November, 73 percent of approximately 65,000 people detained by ICE and Border Patrol following arrest had no prior convictions.

Among those with criminal histories, the majority had been convicted of minor offenses, often traffic violations.

Civil rights organizations report that, in the process of pursuing high arrest numbers, immigration authorities have at times detained U.S. citizens, including minors.

There are also reports of allegations of racial profiling affecting Latino populations in several cities.

Despite the ongoing public discussion, the federal approach to deportations continues to broaden in scope. Border Patrol agents now conduct large operations in urban areas, a role historically undertaken by ICE.

The rapid expansion of these operations is supported by substantial budgetary increases.

According to The Independent, the administration allocated an additional $170 billion to ICE and Border Patrol under the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” passed earlier this year—an unprecedented level of funding for the federal immigration apparatus.

For immigrant rights advocates, the new data demonstrate that ICE operations do not align with the government’s public characterization.

For supporters of President Trump, the figures reflect his administration’s determination to significantly toughen immigration enforcement, regardless of political or financial costs.