After conducting my own research, I found that this claim does appear to be true. Multiple reliable data sources show that most people detained by ICE do not have a criminal record. Although a portion of detainees do have some type of conviction or pending charge, the majority do not, and many of the convictions that do exist are for minor, non-violent offenses. This challenges the common belief that ICE primarily targets individuals who pose a serious threat to public safety. For example, recent reporting shows that “immigrants with no criminal record are now the largest group in US immigration detention” (Congress GOV). This demonstrates a major shift in ICE’s enforcement patterns and suggests that the system is focusing heavily on individuals with no documented history of criminal activity. Additional data reinforce this point. According to an analysis shared by the Cato Institute, “ICE data show that 65 percent of people taken into custody had no criminal convictions, and more than 93 percent had never been convicted of any violent offense” (CATO). This means that not only are most detainees not criminals, but an overwhelming majority have never committed a violent act. Many of the convictions that do appear in ICE records are tied to immigration violations, traffic offenses, or other low level infractions that do not indicate a threat to public safety. These findings matter because they contradict the widely promoted narrative that ICE’s detention and deportation efforts are focused on only people who have criminal records. When the majority of detainees have no criminal background, it raises questions about the goals, priorities, and fairness of the current immigration enforcement system. Overall, the evidence makes it clear that claims about ICE focusing on dangerous criminals are misleading, and that the reality of who is being detained looks very different from how it is often portrayed.
Articles: https://www.congress.gov/119/meeting/house/118692/documents/HMKP-119-JU00-20251118-SD001.pdf
https://www.cato.org/blog/65-people-taken-ice-had-no-convictions-93-no-violent-convictions
