ICE Detention Figures Reveal Surprising Trends
Amid ongoing debates over immigration policy, a recent analysis by the Cato Institute sheds light on the current state of ICE detentions, revealing that the majority of detainees lack criminal records. These findings challenge the Trump administration’s narrative that its deportation strategies primarily focus on individuals with criminal backgrounds.
According to the Cato Institute’s report, 73% of those held in ICE custody in a recent period had no criminal convictions. Most of the remaining detainees faced charges related to non-violent crimes, immigration issues, or traffic violations.
Utilizing data from ICE bookings, publicly accessible detention statistics, and information acquired through the Freedom of Information Act, the report highlights a shift in detention patterns. It indicates that only 5% of the approximately 44,800 individuals booked into ICE custody between October and mid-November had convictions for violent crimes. This marks a departure from trends seen during the Biden administration, where a smaller percentage of detainees lacked criminal records or pending charges.
The report states, “The ICE data show that the share of immigrants detained after an ICE arrest who had criminal convictions has fallen in half since January from 62% of detainees to 31% in November. At the same time, the share of detainees without a criminal conviction or criminal charge has exploded from 6% to 40% of detainees.”
Supporting these findings, data from TRAC show that over 65,000 individuals were held in ICE detention as of November 16, further emphasizing the changing landscape of immigrant detentions in the United States.
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