U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested more than 75,000 people with no prior criminal record during the first nine months of the Trump administration, according to newly released internal data. The University of California, Berkeley’s Deportation Data Project shared the records, covering arrests from January 20 to October 15, 2017, after filing a lawsuit to obtain ICE records.
The data provides an unprecedented look at federal immigration enforcement and shows a significant gap between public statements from senior officials and the actual profile of those arrested. While the Trump administration said it would focus on violent offenders, the records indicate that ICE operations reached far beyond individuals with serious criminal records.
Arrest Numbers and Daily Targets for Migrants With or Without Criminal Records
The internal ICE data shows that over 220,000 people were detained in the first nine months of the Trump administration. Of these, more than one-third had no prior criminal record. Analysts say this underscores how enforcement priorities may have been broader than publicly stated.
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Interestingly, ICE field offices were under intense pressure to meet high arrest numbers. In May 2017, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller warned ICE leaders that failure to achieve at least 3,000 arrests per day could result in personnel changes. However, the new data shows that ICE averaged 824 arrests per day, well below the target but still more than double the daily average of 312 arrests under the Biden administration in 2024.
ICE’s dataset focuses only on arrests conducted by its offices and does not include those made by the U.S. Border Patrol, which has been conducting separate operations in cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles, and Charlotte, North Carolina. The Border Patrol has also recently shifted many agents to the interior of the country to locate undocumented immigrants, many of whom may or may not have a criminal record.
Profile of Those Arrested Including Criminal Record Status
The records provide detailed insights into who was being arrested. Men made up 90% of the arrests, with Mexican nationals accounting for the largest group at around 85,000 arrests. Other nationalities included Guatemala (31,000 arrests) and Honduras (24,000 arrests). More than 60% of those arrested were between 25 and 45 years old.
The ICE dataset does not provide a detailed breakdown of the types of crimes for those with prior criminal records, but it clearly shows that a substantial number of arrests involved individuals with no criminal record. The records also do not clarify how many of the arrested migrants ICE ultimately deported.
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Among the records, ICE listed 22,959 people under “voluntary departure,” meaning these individuals left the country on their own accord. Meanwhile, publicly posted Department of Homeland Security (DHS) figures show that ICE is currently holding 65,000 migrants in detention facilities nationwide.
This surge in arrests has affected various sectors, particularly employers who rely on migrant labor. The large number of arrests of people with and without a criminal record has raised questions about the broader impacts on communities and industries across the U.S.
Gap Between Public Statements and Enforcement Reality
The new records highlight a discrepancy between public messaging from senior Trump administration officials and the reality of enforcement practices, especially regarding migrants with and without a criminal record. While public statements emphasized targeting violent offenders and people with serious criminal records, the ICE data shows that a substantial number of arrests involved individuals with no criminal record.
The data also sheds light on internal pressures within ICE.The administration tasked field offices with achieving high arrest numbers, which may have influenced enforcement strategies. Despite falling short of the aggressive 3,000-arrests-per-day target set by the White House, ICE still conducted a significant number of arrests, demonstrating a notable increase compared to prior administrations.
The dataset and insights provide a rare, detailed glimpse into federal immigration enforcement practices. The information not only documents the number of arrests but also highlights the broader profile of migrants affected and the scale of internal pressure within ICE offices, including those with a criminal record.