Fact Check: "ICE arrests of non-criminals surged 800% since January."
What We Know
Recent data indicates a significant increase in arrests of non-criminal immigrants by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. According to reports from The Guardian and The Independent, the number of non-criminal arrests has surged by 800% since January 2025. Specifically, the data shows that before January, only about 6% of ICE arrests were of individuals without criminal records, which has now increased to approximately 23% of all arrests. This translates to 7,781 non-criminal detainees as of early June 2025, marking a substantial rise from previous years.
ICE's detention facilities have also reported unprecedented numbers, with over 51,000 individuals detained, the highest recorded in history. The agency has faced criticism for not adhering to its stated priorities of targeting violent criminals, as many of those arrested are undocumented immigrants without any criminal history, which is classified as a civil infraction rather than a criminal offense (The Guardian, The Independent).
Analysis
The claim that ICE arrests of non-criminals surged by 800% is supported by multiple credible sources, including data analyzed by The Guardian and The Independent. These reports cite official statistics from ICE, which indicate a dramatic shift in the agency's enforcement practices under the Trump administration. The increase in non-criminal arrests appears to correlate with directives from high-ranking officials within the administration, who have pressured ICE to ramp up enforcement numbers significantly (The Guardian).
However, the reliability of the data has been questioned by some officials, including Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), who expressed skepticism about the sources of this data, labeling them as non-partisan (The Guardian). Despite this, the data has been corroborated by independent analyses and aligns with trends observed in ICE's operational statistics, which show a clear increase in non-criminal arrests.
Moreover, the context provided by these reports highlights a broader strategy by the Trump administration to redefine immigration enforcement priorities, often conflating non-criminal undocumented immigrants with those who have criminal histories (The Guardian, The Independent). This shift raises concerns about the implications for immigrant communities and the overall integrity of the immigration enforcement process.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The evidence supports the claim that ICE arrests of non-criminals surged by 800% since January 2025. The data from multiple credible sources indicates a significant increase in the number of non-criminal detainees, reflecting a shift in enforcement priorities under the current administration. The statistics and reports align consistently, providing a clear picture of the changes in ICE's operational focus.
