New ICE Data Shows Nearly 75,000 People With No Criminal Record Arrested Under Trump
New data reveals that nearly 75,000 people with no criminal record were arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the first nine months of the Trump administration’s current term and the figures paint a broader picture of enforcement activity that has sparked controversy nationwide.
The data, compiled by an internal ICE office and obtained by the University of California, Berkeley’s Deportation Data Project through a lawsuit against the agency, shows about 220,000 people were arrested by ICE between Jan. 20 and Oct. 15, 2025. Of those arrests, approximately 75,000 — nearly one-third — involved individuals with no criminal history.
This finding raises tensions over immigration enforcement priorities. The administration has repeatedly said its efforts focus on removing “criminal aliens,” but the new figures suggest a substantial share of people apprehended by ICE did not have documented criminal convictions. The data also does not include arrests made by U.S. Border Patrol, which has conducted aggressive interior operations in several U.S. cities, meaning total enforcement actions could be higher.
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Advocates argue the numbers show a disconnect between rhetoric and reality. “It contradicts what the administration has been saying about people who are convicted criminals and that they are going after the worst of the worst,” said Ariel Ruiz Soto, senior policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute.
Critics say the figures complicate the narrative of targeted enforcement and fuel ongoing debate about civil liberties and immigration policy. Supporters of the administration maintain that the broader strategy is necessary to deter unlawful entry and uphold immigration laws.
Federal reporting now faces pressure to provide clearer public breakdowns of ICE arrests by offense type and enforcement category. Experts say more detailed data could shape both public perception and future policy decisions.
What happens next?
ICE is expected to respond to data requests for fuller transparency as lawmakers call for briefings on enforcement categories and criminal history definitions.
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