Since January 2025, the U.S. government enacted increasingly strict immigration enforcement measures. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stated its’ goal is removing the “worst of the worst” from the country. According to ABC, only three percent of all ICE detainees processed over the past fourteen months had a violent felony conviction. Additionally, ICE detained fourteen thousand parents of U.S. born children during the first eight months of 2025. That’s more than the number of parents detained in 2022 and 2023 combined.
ABC’s numbers roughly match-up with a report conducted by the University of California Berkley in April, 2026. For example, detainment of individuals without a criminal record increased by seven hundred and seventy percent in the same time frame as the ABC report. Detainment of individuals without a criminal record wasn’t a huge priority for immigration agents until January, 2025.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) explained all ICE detainees are guilty of entering the U.S. unlawfully. However, unlawful entry is considered a civil offense, not a criminal one. The DHS’ statement reveals a gap in the legal definition of criminality and how the government handles undocumented individuals. In total, ICE detained 438,000 people between January 2025 and March 2026.
As always, ILBSG actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, it’s particularly critical you get the right advice.