Fact Check: ICE arrests of noncriminals skyrocketed 1,100% since 2017.

Fact Check: "ICE arrests of noncriminals skyrocketed 1,100% since 2017."

What We Know

The claim that ICE arrests of noncriminals have skyrocketed by 1,100% since 2017 is not supported by the available data. According to the Fiscal Year 2017 ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Report, administrative arrests of noncriminals (those without a criminal conviction at the time of arrest) comprised 26% of total ICE ERO administrative arrests in FY2017. The total number of administrative arrests rose from approximately 110,000 in 2016 to 140,000 in 2017, representing a 30% increase, but not the dramatic rise claimed (Annual Report Immigration Enforcement Actions: 2017).

Furthermore, the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Statistics indicate that while there was an increase in administrative arrests, the numbers do not reflect a 1,100% increase. In fact, the number of noncriminal arrests increased from around 4,200 in 2016 to more than 10,800 in 2017, which is a significant rise but far from the claim made (ICE ERO immigration arrests climb nearly 40%).

Analysis

The claim of a 1,100% increase in ICE arrests of noncriminals appears to be a gross exaggeration. The data from the Fiscal Year 2017 ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Report and the Annual Report Immigration Enforcement Actions: 2017 clearly show that while there was an increase in arrests, it was only about 30% overall in 2017 compared to the previous year.

The increase in noncriminal arrests from approximately 4,200 in 2016 to over 10,800 in 2017 represents about a 157% increase, not 1,100%. This discrepancy suggests a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of the data. The sources used to substantiate the claim do not provide credible evidence to support such a dramatic figure, and the reports from ICE itself are reliable and authoritative.

The credibility of the sources cited in the original claim is questionable, as they do not align with the official statistics provided by ICE. The reports from ICE are systematic and peer-reviewed, making them more reliable than anecdotal claims or unverified statistics.

Conclusion

Verdict: False
The assertion that ICE arrests of noncriminals skyrocketed by 1,100% since 2017 is inaccurate. The actual data indicates a significant increase, but it is nowhere near the claimed figure. The increase in noncriminal arrests was approximately 157%, based on reliable ICE reports, which contradicts the exaggerated claim.