Fact Check: "ICE has been locking up American citizens"
What We Know
The claim that "ICE has been locking up American citizens" has some basis in recent data concerning the practices of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). As of June 2025, ICE was reported to detain approximately 59,000 individuals, with a significant percentage being people without criminal convictions. Specifically, a report indicated that 59% of ICE arrests involved individuals with no criminal convictions, raising concerns about wrongful detentions, including cases involving American citizens (VisaVerge).
Furthermore, data from the Deportation Data Project highlighted that about 71.5% of current detainees had no criminal convictions, which translates to around 40,643 individuals (TRAC). This shift in ICE's focus towards detaining noncriminals has led to documented instances of American citizens being wrongfully detained, as the agency's enforcement priorities have changed significantly over recent years (NPR).
Analysis
The evidence suggests that while ICE primarily targets undocumented immigrants, the increasing number of detentions of individuals without criminal records raises valid concerns about the potential for American citizens to be caught up in these operations. The NPR report noted that the number of detainees without criminal records nearly doubled in a short period, indicating a significant shift in enforcement practices (NPR).
However, it is essential to assess the reliability of the sources. The Deportation Data Project is a reputable organization that compiles immigration statistics, and their findings are corroborated by multiple reports, including those from NPR and TRAC, which are credible news and research organizations (TRAC, NPR). Conversely, while the VisaVerge report provides alarming statistics, it is crucial to consider the potential for bias, as it may be advocating for reform in immigration enforcement.
Moreover, the claim does not specify the number of American citizens detained versus noncitizens, which complicates the assertion that ICE is "locking up" American citizens specifically. While there are cases of wrongful detentions, the broader context involves a significant number of noncitizens being detained, which can dilute the focus on American citizens alone.
Conclusion
The claim that "ICE has been locking up American citizens" is Partially True. While there is evidence that American citizens have been wrongfully detained amid a broader crackdown on undocumented immigrants, the majority of those detained by ICE are noncitizens, particularly individuals without criminal records. The increasing number of detentions of noncriminals raises legitimate concerns about due process and the potential for American citizens to be inadvertently affected by these policies.
Sources
- ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Statistics
- Detention Management
- Most growth in ICE detention population immigrants with ...
- Immigration Detention Quick Facts
- American Citizens Say They Were Detained by ICE, Feeling Unsafe
- ICE Detains More Than 50000 People For The First Time ...
- 65 Percent of People Taken by ICE Had No Convictions, 93 ...
- Snapshot of ICE Detention
