Newly released government data is casting doubt on claims by the Trump administration that immigration enforcement efforts are primarily targeting violent criminals and gang members.
What the data shows
According to records obtained by the University of California, Berkeley’s Deportation Data Project, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested nearly 220,000 people between January 20 and October 15. Importantly, almost 75,000 of those arrested — more than one-third — had no criminal record at all.
The data, which ICE stopped publicly releasing earlier this year, was obtained through a lawsuit and represents the most detailed look yet at the administration’s expanded immigration crackdown.
“This contradicts what the administration has been saying about targeting the worst of the worst,” said Ariel Ruiz Soto, a senior policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute.
Enforcement sharply expanded, but not narrowly targeted
Although President Donald Trump and senior officials have repeatedly said raids would focus on violent offenders, the figures show a different enforcement pattern. By mid-October, only 28% of ICE detainees had criminal convictions, down from 46% at the start of Trump’s term.
Meanwhile, just 5% of those arrested had been convicted of violent crimes, such as assault or homicide. Another 26% had pending charges, many for nonviolent or minor offenses.
In several cities, enforcement operations swept up large numbers of people with no criminal history. In Washington, D.C., 84% of those arrested during one operation had no prior convictions. Similarly, two-thirds of arrestees in Illinois and more than half in the Los Angeles area had clean records.
Pressure on ICE and arrest quotas
At the same time, ICE field officers have faced internal pressure to increase arrest numbers. In May, White House adviser Stephen Miller reportedly warned senior ICE officials they could lose their jobs if daily arrests did not reach 3,000 per day.
However, the data shows ICE has averaged 824 arrests per day, which is more than double the daily average under the Biden administration in 2024 but still far below that target.
Impact on workforce and economy
Beyond enforcement numbers, the crackdown is already affecting the U.S. labor market. About 90% of those arrested were men, with more than 60% between the ages of 25 and 45 — a core working-age population.
“Now we’re really feeling that pain in the workforce,” said George Carrillo, CEO of the Hispanic Construction Council. While supporting border security, Carrillo warned that aggressive interior arrests are disrupting industries that rely heavily on migrant labor.
“Even conservative Republicans are starting to feel the economic impact,” he added.
What remains unknown
The data does not include Border Patrol arrests, which have surged in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New Orleans. As a result, the full scope of immigration enforcement remains unclear.
Currently, ICE is holding about 65,000 migrants in detention centers, while roughly 23,000 people have left the U.S. under voluntary departure since January.
