ICE Detains Nearly 1,200 People in Single Day, Half Without Criminal Records
Immigration authorities focus on arrests, but nearly 50% of those detained have no criminal history, according to senior Trump administration official.
Chicago — U.S. immigration authorities made nearly 1,200 arrests in a single day, with almost half of those detained lacking criminal records, according to a senior Trump administration official.
Data obtained by NBC News reveals that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 1,179 individuals on Sunday, a figure that surpassed the 956 arrests initially reported by the agency on X. Of those arrested, 613 — approximately 52% — were classified as “criminal arrests,” while the remaining individuals were detained for civil offenses, such as being undocumented or for minor violations.
The arrests included eight individuals identified as "Worst Criminals Arrested," which encompassed two gang members, according to the official.
However, at least 566 of those detained had no criminal history and were held solely due to their lack of legal authorization to remain in the United States. Being undocumented is classified as a civil offense, but re-entering the country after deportation is considered a criminal offense. It remains unclear how many of the 566 individuals may have crossed the border illegally after previous deportations.
The latest numbers have raised questions about the Trump administration’s focus on prioritizing the detention and deportation of undocumented immigrants with criminal backgrounds.
Tom Homan, President Trump’s border czar, acknowledged the presence of “collateral arrests” — detentions of individuals without criminal convictions who were simply present during the raids. Homan noted that these types of detentions are expected to increase as immigration enforcement actions intensify nationwide.
“We want to get as many criminals as possible,” Homan said. “They’re a public safety threat, and so with somebody else illegally here, they’re coming, too.”
In addition to the 1,179 arrests, ICE recorded 853 “detainers lodged,” meaning that individuals arrested for other criminal charges were flagged for potential deportation. A detainer request asks local jurisdictions to hold individuals suspected of being undocumented until ICE can investigate further. However, sanctuary cities typically refuse to comply with detainer requests.
The latest actions reflect an ongoing push to crack down on illegal immigration, despite concerns about the scope of the enforcement and its impact on individuals without criminal records.