ICE’s Limited Arrests Despite Focus on Violent Immigrant Offenders
In the past six months, despite strong promises to crack down on the most dangerous undocumented immigrants, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has detained just a small fraction of those known to have serious criminal convictions. Internal ICE data from the 2025 fiscal year reveals that the administration has only arrested a minor portion of immigrants convicted of homicide and sexual assault.
Arrest Figures Paint a Surprising Picture
Between October 1, 2024, and May 31, 2025, ICE booked 185,042 individuals into its custody. Among them, 65,041 had criminal convictions, primarily for immigration violations and traffic offenses. Notably, nearly half of those detained had no criminal charges or convictions at all.
The data further shows that of the thousands of immigrants with convictions for serious crimes but not in custody last fall—specifically 13,099 convicted of homicide and 15,811 convicted of sexual assault—the agency has arrested only 752 homicide convicts and 1,693 sexual assault convicts since. This amounts to roughly 6% of known immigrant murderers and 11% of sexual assault offenders being detained during that period.
Mixed Messaging on Enforcement Priorities
While officials claim aggressive targeting of the “worst of the worst” criminals, statements and data indicate a broader enforcement strategy. A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson disputed the data’s accuracy but did not provide detailed arrest breakdowns by crime. Meanwhile, ICE has been encouraged to prioritize violent criminals over non-violent immigrants.
Republican Representative Tony Gonzales emphasized the need for ICE to deploy resources toward arresting violent offenders rather than conducting broad raids. He pointed out that deporting large numbers of immigrants without criminal records does little to improve community safety.
Challenges in Targeting Serious Criminals
A senior DHS official explained that arresting serious criminals is inherently complex, requiring specialized investigations and personnel. The administration appears to have shifted focus towards deporting all undocumented immigrants, regardless of criminal history. This approach is raising concerns among some lawmakers who argue that prioritizing non-criminal immigrants risks diluting efforts against high-risk offenders like gang members and cartel affiliates.
Calls for Clearer Enforcement Priorities
Gonzales, along with other Republican members of Congress, have requested detailed reports from ICE on the number of violent criminals apprehended. They stressed the importance of focusing enforcement on public safety threats rather than pursuing individuals without criminal backgrounds.
- ICE arrested 185,042 individuals during fiscal 2025 (Oct-May), with 65,041 convicted of crimes.
- Only 6% of known immigrant murderers and 11% of sexual assault convicts were detained.
- Nearly half of ICE detainees had no criminal charges or convictions.
- Enforcement priorities appear to be broadening beyond violent criminals.
As immigration enforcement continues amidst political debate, the balance between public safety and broad deportations remains a contentious issue among officials and lawmakers alike.
