Federal data obtained by NBC News covering October 1, 2024 to May 31, 2025 reveals that ICE arrested 185,042 individuals during that time—65,041 of whom had criminal convictions or charges, but the majority were non-violent offenders, such as immigration or traffic violators. While ICE previously informed Congress it had identified more than 13,000 homicide convicts and nearly 16,000 sexual assault convicts on its non-detained docket, only 752 homicide convicts (about 6%) and 1,693 sexual assault convicts (about 11%) were actually taken into custody. Nearly half of current ICE detainees have no criminal history.
Though the agency asserts that apprehending serious offenders is more resource-intensive, critics argue ICE has shifted focus from violent criminals to general immigrants lacking legal status. Civil liberties advocates highlight that expansive enforcement nets bolstered by programs like 287(g) and Secure Communities often sweep up individuals who pose minimal public threat. They caution that this widening scope undermines the stated priority of removing the “worst of the worst” and strains agency resources.
Reference:
Ainsley, Julia, and Laura Strickler. “Despite Promise to Remove ‘Worst of the Worst,’ ICE Has Arrested Only a Small Fraction of Violent Immigrant Offenders.” NBC News, 25 June 2025.
