Nearly 70% of the 595,000 migrants arrested by ICE under President Donald Trump in 2025 had criminal convictions or pending charges, with officials warning that even those without U.S. records may pose serious public safety threats, according to new data reported by the Washington Examiner.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
WASHINGTON — Under President Donald Trump’s second term, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested approximately 595,000 undocumented immigrants between January 20 and December 11, 2025, with nearly 70%—roughly 416,000—having criminal convictions or pending charges, according to new data obtained by the Washington Examiner. The figures underscore Trump’s campaign promise to prioritize the “worst of the worst“ in immigration enforcement, while critics argue the crackdown unfairly targets nonviolent migrants.
Criminal Records and Public Safety Threats
ICE officials emphasize that the 70% statistic does not account for migrants wanted for violent crimes abroad, those with INTERPOL notices, or individuals linked to gangs, terrorism, or human rights abuses.
“This statistic doesn’t account for those wanted for violent crimes in their home country or another country, INTERPOL notices, human rights abusers, gang members, terrorists, etc. The list goes on,” an ICE spokesperson told the Washington Examiner.
Among the notable cases cited by ICE:
- Antonio Israel Lazo-Quintanilla, arrested in the U.S. for driving without a license but wanted in El Salvador for aggravated homicide, extortion, and drug possession.
- Akhror Bozorov, a citizen of Uzbekistan with no U.S. criminal record but wanted in his home country for alleged ties to a terrorist organization.
Democrats and Activists Push Back
Despite ICE’s focus on criminal migrants, Democrats and immigration advocacy groups continue to argue that the agency unfairly targets individuals whose only offense is unlawful entry or overstaying visas. They contend that simply being undocumented—especially after ignoring immigration court orders—should not be treated as a serious criminal matter.
However, Trump administration officials counter that unlawful presence places additional burdens on law enforcement, schools, and taxpayers, and that ignoring deportation orders undermines the rule of law.
A Focus on “Criminal Aliens” and Deportation Orders
In his January 2025 inaugural address, Trump vowed to “begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came.” Since then, his administration has estimated that between 500,000 and 1 million criminal undocumented immigrants currently reside in the U.S.
Another key enforcement priority has been migrants with final deportation orders who remain in the country. The Washington Examiner reports that approximately 1.5 million individuals fall into this category but have not yet been deported.
Challenges in Enforcement and Expanding Operations
ICE’s arrest numbers sometimes include nonviolent offenders due to the agency’s reliance on state and local police for leads, often stemming from routine traffic stops. With only 6,500 officers responsible for interior enforcement nationwide, ICE frequently depends on local cooperation—though some jurisdictions refuse to comply with detainer requests, forcing agents to track targets in communities and increasing the likelihood of broader arrests.
Data shows that between February and April 2025, 75% of those arrested had criminal records. By May, that figure dipped to 67% as ICE expanded operations to courthouses, workplaces, farms, and retail hubs.
A More Aggressive 2026 Crackdown on the Horizon
The Trump administration is preparing an even more aggressive immigration crackdown in 2026, backed by a massive funding surge. Under a spending package passed by the Republican-controlled Congress, ICE and Border Patrol are set to receive $170 billion in additional funds through September 2029. This will allow the administration to:
- Hire thousands of new agents.
- Expand detention capacity.
- Increase workplace raids.
White House border czar Tom Homan has predicted that arrest and deportation numbers will “explode greatly” in 2026, signaling the administration’s confidence in its mandate and resources to restore border control after what it describes as the “chaos of the Biden years.”
Political Stakes Ahead of the 2026 Midterms
With crime, fentanyl trafficking, and public safety ranking as top voter concerns, the Trump administration is betting that its hardline immigration policies—particularly the removal of criminal undocumented immigrants—will remain a winning issue in the lead-up to the 2026 midterm elections. However, critics are escalating political and legal pushback, setting the stage for intense debates over immigration in the coming year.
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