Immigration arrests have surged dramatically in recent months. But as The New York Times reported this week, an increasing proportion of those arrests are people who don’t have criminal histories, including some who had legally entered the country and were only seeking asylum or had a temporary status that the administration later chose to rescind.
What the Data Says
ICE made about 92,000 arrests total during June and July 2026, federal data obtained by the Deportation Data Project and analyzed by the Times shows. That breaks down to about 43,000 arrests in June and 49,000 arrests in July. July was notable for another reason: It was the first month this administration was when those arrested with no criminal charges or convictions other than a civil immigration violation outnumbered everyone else. The share of arrests with someone who had a prior violent conviction dipped below 4% during that month.
Impact
That figure sits uncomfortably alongside public statements from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials. Over the past several months, they insisted three-quarters of the people ICE arrested were convicted of a crime in the U.S. The problem with that statistic is it counts individuals with pending charges the same as those with convictions. Outside analyses demonstrate significantly lower figures: The Cato Institute determined 73% of individuals booked into ICE custody this fiscal year didn’t have a single criminal conviction. CBS News found that fewer than one-quarter of those arrested faced charges for or convictions of violent crimes, including just 14% of those arrested during the Biden administration’s first year.
The message is clear: immigration enforcement might target you even if you never committed a crime. Immigration status now predicts who qualifies for detainment better than criminality does.
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.