Fact Check: Less than 10% of migrants in ICE custody have serious criminal convictions
What We Know
Recent reports indicate that a significant majority of individuals in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody do not have serious criminal convictions. According to internal government documents reviewed by CNN, more than 75% of those booked into ICE custody in fiscal year 2025 had no criminal convictions other than immigration or traffic-related offenses. Specifically, the data shows that less than 10% of these individuals were convicted of serious crimes such as murder, assault, robbery, or rape.
Further analysis by Cato Institute supports this finding, stating that 65% of individuals taken into ICE custody had no criminal convictions, and over 93% had never been convicted of any violent offenses. Similarly, a report from CBS News found that about 8% of those detained had violent crime convictions, reinforcing the claim that the vast majority of detainees do not pose a serious threat.
Analysis
The claim that less than 10% of migrants in ICE custody have serious criminal convictions is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The data presented by CNN, Cato Institute, and CBS News all converge on the point that a significant proportion of individuals detained by ICE do not have serious criminal backgrounds.
The reliability of these sources is bolstered by their established reputations in journalism and research. CNN, as a major news outlet, adheres to journalistic standards, and its findings are based on internal government data. The Cato Institute, a well-known think tank, provides data-driven analysis on immigration issues, while CBS News is recognized for its investigative reporting.
However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has contested some of these narratives, claiming that a substantial percentage of ICE arrests involve individuals with serious criminal histories. In a statement, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin emphasized that ICE targets "the worst of the worst," including gang members and violent offenders (DHS). This assertion, while highlighting the agency's focus, does not negate the statistical evidence indicating that the majority of detainees lack serious convictions.
It is also important to note that the context in which data is presented can influence public perception. The Trump administration's emphasis on high-profile arrests of serious offenders contrasts sharply with the broader statistical reality that most detainees do not have significant criminal records. This discrepancy raises questions about the framing of immigration enforcement narratives.
Conclusion
The claim that less than 10% of migrants in ICE custody have serious criminal convictions is True. The evidence from multiple reputable sources indicates that a large majority of individuals detained by ICE do not have serious criminal histories, with less than 10% being convicted of serious crimes. This finding is consistent across various analyses and highlights a significant disparity between public narratives and the actual data regarding immigration enforcement.
Sources
- ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Statistics
- DHS Debunks Fake News Media Narratives from June
- Less than 10% of immigrants taken into ICE custody in recent ... - CNN
- 65 Percent of People Taken by ICE Had No Convictions, 93 Percent No ...
- Immigration Detention Quick Facts
- ICE detentions of non-criminal immigrants spike; about 8% have violent ...
