New Data Reveals ICE Arrested 75,000 Non-Criminal Immigrants Under Trump Administration
A UC Berkeley lawsuit uncovers sharp discrepancies between political rhetoric and real-world immigration enforcement.
Recent data shows that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested nearly 75,000 people with no criminal records during the first nine months of President Donald Trump’s administration. The numbers indicate that more than one-third of the approximately 220,000 individuals detained by the agency between January 20 and October 15 had no prior offenses, despite administration claims that its operations targeted “killers, rapists, and gang members.”
The data—obtained by the University of California, Berkeley’s Deportation Data Project through a lawsuit against the agency—offers a clearer picture of the administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement campaign. Experts say the figures contradict officials’ repeated statements emphasizing the pursuit of “the worst criminals.”
Daily Arrest Trends and Economic Impact
According to the records, ICE agents averaged about 824 arrests per day since January—more than double the daily average under the Biden administration in 2024, which stood at 312 per day. However, the number still falls well short of the target set by White House adviser Stephen Miller, who urged the agency to reach 3,000 arrests per day.
The data also reveals that around 90% of those arrested were men, with Mexican nationals representing the largest share (85,000), followed by Guatemalans (31,000) and Hondurans (24,000). More than 60% were between the ages of 25 and 45, the demographic most active in the labor market.
This reality has raised concerns among economic sectors that rely heavily on immigrant labor. George Carrillo, CEO of the Hispanic Construction Council, said that “the ongoing operations directly impact companies that employ immigrant workers,” adding that even some conservative Republicans have begun to question the current strategy.
Uncertain Deportation Outcomes and Policy Debate
Despite the high volume of arrests, it remains unclear how many of those detained have actually been deported. The data shows that about 22,959 individuals left the country voluntarily, while ICE is currently holding around 65,000 migrants in detention facilities across the United States, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
These figures highlight the gap between political rhetoric—focused on “dangerous criminals”—and the operational reality involving tens of thousands of migrants with no criminal records. The findings open the door to significant debate over the effectiveness, legality, and broader societal impact of these enforcement policies on American communities and the national economy.
