Fact Check: "Over 93% of immigrants arrested this year had no violent convictions."
What We Know
The claim that "over 93% of immigrants arrested this year had no violent convictions" appears to be supported by data from the Cato Institute, which states that during a specific timeframe, 93% of individuals processed by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) had never been convicted of violent crimes (Cato Institute). This statistic is derived from internal ICE data, indicating a significant proportion of arrests involve individuals without a history of violent offenses.
Additionally, the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) released a report detailing federal arrests, including those related to immigration violations. In fiscal year 2023, there were 94,411 arrests made by federal law enforcement, with a notable percentage of these arrests being related to immigration. However, the BJS report does not explicitly break down the violent versus non-violent convictions for all immigrants arrested, which makes it challenging to directly correlate these figures with the claim (BJS, BJS News Release).
Analysis
The assertion that over 93% of immigrants arrested had no violent convictions is primarily supported by the Cato Institute's report, which cites ICE data indicating that 65% of individuals taken into custody had no criminal convictions at all, and over 93% had never been convicted of violent crimes (Cato Institute). This data is compelling, but it is important to note that the timeframe referenced in the Cato report may not align with the current year, as it covers a period from October 2024 to June 2025. Therefore, while the statistics are relevant, they may not reflect the most recent data for the current year.
The BJS report provides a broader context of federal arrests but lacks specific details about the violent convictions of immigrants arrested in FY 2023. The report indicates that 70% of immigration-related arrests resulted in prosecutions, but it does not specify the nature of the convictions (BJS, BJS News Release). This gap in data makes it difficult to fully validate or refute the claim without additional context or specific statistics on violent convictions among immigrants arrested this year.
Moreover, the reliability of the Cato Institute as a source should be considered. While it is a well-known think tank that conducts research on immigration and criminal justice, it may have a particular ideological perspective that could influence the framing of its findings. Therefore, while the statistics presented are based on ICE data, the interpretation and emphasis on non-violent convictions should be critically assessed.
Conclusion
Needs Research. While there is evidence suggesting that a significant percentage of immigrants arrested have no violent convictions, the claim lacks comprehensive support from the most recent federal data. The Cato Institute's statistics provide a strong basis for the assertion, but they pertain to a specific timeframe that may not correspond to the current year. Additionally, the BJS report does not provide the necessary breakdown of violent versus non-violent convictions for the current fiscal year. Further research is needed to clarify these statistics and provide a more accurate picture of the situation.
